Most of us want our information from someone who has been there before. If we are going on a trip, we want to talk to someone who has been to that same destination. What would you do again? What would you do if you were to go back to that location? What would you avoid? We want to hear from the voice of experience.
Peter was addressing a group of people facing persecution, and he tells them to be serious (sober) and alert to the attacks of Satan (1 Pet. 5:8). Both verbs Peter used carry the idea of being watchful. Of all people, Peter would know the problems of failing to be alert. Jesus invited Peter, James, and John to accompany Him into the garden of Gethsemane as He prayed (see Matt. 26:37-45). Jesus returned to catch them sleeping….failing to remain alert. All of them appeared to be asleep, but Jesus addressed Peter. Jesus’ words included a warning about staying awake and praying so he would not fall to temptation (v. 41). In a few short hours, Peter would be denying that he even knew Jesus. Peter knew the danger of failing to remain alert. He was warning his readers from experience.
What other stories in Peter’s life qualified him to explain the need for staying alert to the potential attacks of Satan? What situations do you face that remind you of the need for staying alert?