Our Shrike System — The Bible
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bible Lessons on the BibleThe ancient sport of falconry (see video) used trained hawks or falcons in the pursuit of wild game. When the “educated predator” was allowed to fly, it often rose too high for human eyes to see. So a hunter often carried a small caged bird called a shrike (see video). By watching the antics of the little bird, the man could always tell where his hawk was, for the shrike instinctively feared the predator and cocked its head to keep it in view.
As Christians, we desperately need an alert perception similar to that of the shrike to detect our spiritual enemy. Our adversary, “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). According to the inspired writer, we are to be sober and vigilant. In other words, we’re to always be on the alert.
It would be nice if God had giant sirens to warn us of an attack by Satan. But He doesn’t operate that way. Instead, we must “examine” the Bible daily (Acts 17:11), meditate on its truths (Psalm 1:2), and maintain a prayerful attitude throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Only then will we be sensitive to an imminent assault by the devil, and be armed by grace to meet it (Ephesians 6:10-18).