Act Like a Manनमुना

Two Mistakes Not to Make

"Preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." — 1 Peter 1:13

The morning of my son’s birthday party, I saw a six-foot snake slithering in my backyard. Party start time was 3 pm. At 2:57 pm, as I walk up the stairs from my backyard to inside the house, the massive snake is at the second-to-top step, tongue fluttering, looking for its first victim. The doorbell chimes. Parents and kids are at the front door.

One reason I believe Satan is real, aside from Scripture, is because snakes exist. C. S. Lewis explained that believers often make one of two mistakes about Satan. We make a joke out of him, or we completely ignore him.

Peter’s writing points out that both are mistakes. Like Adam’s garden, the world is beautiful and filled with things to enjoy. But it’s also a war zone. The same serpent Adam faced was also the snake under our house, looking for a child to wrap around.

Zero of my son’s friends noticed the snake that day. But I’ll have to say, my mind was “prepared for action” all day. I understand Peter’s idea of “preparing your minds for action.” It’s the idea of tucking in a long garment so you can run or get down and work. It’s effort, concentration, and intentionality. I tapped into self-control I didn’t know I had that day.

Your issue may not be a snake at a kid’s party. But the snake from Eve’s day that said, “Did God really say that?” is nearby. His temptations are the fruit of money, sex, entitlement, seeming perfect, keeping folks at arm’s length, and shortcuts.

God says through Peter, focus on the grace you’ve been given in Christ. Stay alert. Don’t drift. Keep your vision of manhood. Find guys to walk with you. Because of Christ’s work on the cross, we should live in constant preparation, ready for the enemy, and grateful for the salvation we’ve been given.

Lord, thank you for your salvation (and for protecting those kids from that snake).

When do you most notice the enemy in your life?