The Men of Iron Minute

by Steve Glick | Director of Marketing Strategy

How God Restores and Strengthens in Struggle

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:8-10, NIV)

1 Peter 5:8-10 delivers a sober warning, call to action and an enduring promise for men. The passage begins with a call to be alert and watchful because we are being hunted like prey.

The devil is described as a roaring lion on the prowl for someone to devour.

Let your mind travel to an African plain of unsuspecting antelope grazing on the tall grass as a lion readies to pounce the weakest one. Peter is commanding our attention to a real and present danger lurking in pursuit. Our awareness leads to active resistance that is rooted in faith. Our individual and collective lives are engulfed in this war of brokenness. The battle spills into every aspect of our lives, with our marriages, families and communities as the prey. The result is a personal and corporate suffering that God never intends.

However, God’s heart is for restoration –

To take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for His good purposes.

And while He calls us to be active participants in the fight, it is the Lord who is the ultimate victor. It is He who intervenes to restore and make us strong, firm and steadfast in His grace.

While the enemy prowls with intent to divide and destroy, our call is to stand resolute, grounded in the strength of God’s promise.

SUBSCRIBE | WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

A Man’s Game Plan – available now! A Man’s Game Plan is a 5-session course designed by Men of Iron for your small group, with the purpose of helping men develop a game plan for their CORE5 – faith, family, friends, fitness and finances. FIND OUT MORE!