Fry's Fuel Points -- Save Quite A Bit With Little Effort

At special times during the year Fry's Food Stores (just one of the Kroger Inc Family) has a promo during which you can earn 4x the fuel points, instead of the usual 2x fuel points, by buying Gift Cards from their Gift Card Mall, which is what they call the display of their gift cards. Personally we buy gift cards to use like cash at the places that we normally shop. For instance, I do a great deal of our household shopping on Amazon, so instead of using my credit card, I use the gift cards. We also have breakfast from McDonald's most mornings (love their oatmeal!) so we do the same thing with McDonald's gift cards. You get the idea. You can go to Fry's Food Store's website to see the very large selection that might be available at your local store.

As a BzzAgent, I received additional fuel points for free in order to encourage me to try out the 4x promotion on Gift Cards. Now that the promo is over the point system is still mostly the same except that gift cards go back to 2 fuel points per $1 you spend, while you continue to receive 1 fuel point per $1 you spend for groceries and prescriptions, You do need to make sure to use your VIP loyalty card at the check-out in order to receive your fuel points. Once a week, you can also do the survey printed on your Fry's Food Stores receipt which earns you an additional 50 fuel points.

You can check your points on your receipt each week, both the accrued and points earned from that particular purchase. We check our points and then buy the amount in gift cards from the Gift Card Mall in order to make up the difference for the amount of fuel points we want to use at fill-up. For each increment of 100 fuel points redeemed a savings of 10¢ per gallon will be awarded You can use up to 1000 points each time you fill-up with gas which will save save $1 per gallon, with a limit of 35 gallons. We fill up with gas about every fourteen days and use 1000 points each time which in our case saves us about $20 each time.

The process of using fuel points at the pump is quite simple, but you do need to go to one of the authorized gas stations and either scan your VIP card, or enter your phone number. As you can see the whole process is incredibly simple, saving quite a bit with very little effort doing mostly what you normally do – grocery shopping, getting your medicine, buying gift cards to use as cash and purchasing your gas. We don't drive much and yet we still save about $40 a month! 

<img src="https://img.bzzagent.com/image/krogerGiftCards.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=6996362855&Campaign=1515170955&Uid=1244741&token=5dfb5031ab3bae7f2114f214540d37f9" alt=""/>

Spring Cleaning

The dictionary says that chaff is the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain, it also says that chaff is something comparatively worthless¹. I imagine threshing wheat is hard work, repeatedly throwing the harvested wheat in the air while the heavier wheat berries fall to the floor, and the outer, lighter husk hangs in the air a moment then falls to the ground away from the wheat berries. Threshing, also called winnowing, is ideally done where there is a breeze, like you can find on the top of hills. On the other hand, after harvesting grapes, you would want to press the juice out closer to the source. I mean you really wouldn't want to haul all those grapes up a hill, would You?


[The Call of Gideon]
[11] Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites.
(Judges 6:11 ESV)


The Midianites had their own form of gleaning; in the Spring, during the harvesting season of wheat, they would just simply camp out near the Israelites and watch for people threshing, quite easily seen on the top of hills, then come take the wheat from them. The poor person who had done all the work, was left with nothing, while at the end of the season, the Midianites went home with their booty, but beforehand, they destroyed the Israelite's homes and villages, taking whatever they wanted.


Reading about the Israelites in the Old Testament, we follow a cycle repeated many times, the Israelites: *follow and serve God, fall into sin & idolatry, become enslaved and or oppressed, cry out to God, God raises up a Judge, they are delivered, repeat from *. In Judges 6, the Israelites need God, they realize they can't do it themselves and they also know that their idols can't save them either, so they have been crying out to God because the Midianites have been oppressing them for seven years!


Gideon means “Destroyer”, Mighty Warrior” or “Feller (of trees)”, an apt name for someone who saves Israel, right. Wait, Gideon is threshing in the winepress? He must have been pretty scared, don't you think? I image him there, sweating like crazy, while throwing the wheat in the air and a lot of the chaff is sticking to him. What happens in between Gideon being so scared and hiding in order to thresh out the wheat and not attract the attention of the Midianites, and him leading a great army into battle and then chasing the kings of Midian with 300 men?


God happens. God loves to use people who are weak and unable to do much, because His glory can really shine through. Repeatedly He calls people something they are not, like Abram, who has no children, becomes Abraham, father of many. The Lord looks at Gideon and calls him what he will be. As we read Judges, we follow this frightened man, who is hiding and threshing in the winepress, until he becomes so confident in God, he tells his men that if they are frightened, they should go home; then we follow him until he really is “a mighty man of valor”!


I can apply so many lessons here to my life. I have a muscle movement disorder. Even though I'm doing so much better than I was, I'm still in a wheelchair because I get tired and fall so easily. I am on oxygen because the oxygen in my blood is low. Now imagine me doing something like Gideon. God threshes me like wheat, using circumstances to cause the useless chaff in my life to be blown away, leaving the valuable wheat, God really can use me to bring glory to Himself! The Bible is full of people that God takes, in spite of all their shortcomings, circumstances and problems, and transform them into people, who God uses powerfully!


¹

merriam-webster.com

Why Do We Do Not What We Should?

I have asthma, which has over time gotten worse, so now I am supposed to do a breathing treatment four times a day. This consists of putting the medicine in the little nebulizer cup, putting my lips around the mouthpiece and turning it on; about 20 minutes later, I remove it from my mouth, shake the little bit of medicine out of the nebulizer cup and turn the machine off. Afterwards I can breathe better. As you can tell, it isn't hard, or terribly time consuming, I can even do this while continuing in many of my activities. So it absolutely confounds me as to why I hate doing it so much? In fact, there are many things that I have great benefits from, but avoid doing; why is that?

Something else that many of us have trouble with, is our diet. According to WHO "An unhealthy diet is one of the major risk factors for a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other conditions linked to obesity" Now granted that I have a special situation, in that having hurt myself cooking more than a few times, my husband would prefer I do nothing more than microwave, and he gets take-out food for me and given the financial situation these days, this means from much cheaper options these days, but even if money weren't so tight, getting healthy vegetables and fruits from take-out isn't very easy, is it? I really like fruits and veggies and actually prefer them over meat. Even still cooking at home, we still don't make or eat all the healthy vegetables in each meal that we should.

What really confounds me, is that God calls us to live a life led by the Spirit and to do all that He asks us to do; if we do this, we are happier and feel better emotionally, so why don't we? Everything He asks of us is because He knows that it is the best thing for us. For instance He asks us to walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh, then we have have more joy and peace. I really like joy and peace. Yet think of how peaceful and joyful we feel after watching a movie filled with death in all it's gory details. Think of how hard it is to do the right thing, if we are on a strict diet and we belly up to a buffet with lots of all the wrong stuff, while we are famished. Why do we put ourselves in tempting situations when we are weak?

I could go on and on with examples, but my point is that long term good benefits are usually better than the short term consequences of doing what we should, even though sometimes the "long term" part is only 20 minutes. Yet I'm still flummoxed. I just don't understand myself as to why I don't do what is best for me. Only part of it is instant gratification. Yet perhaps if results were tragically instant, such as when Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark at Nachon's threshing floor in Samuel 6:6; or in Numbers 21:6 where God sent snakes among them and they needed to look to the golden snake in order to live. What a good example for us to walk with my eyes trustingly on Jesus instead of thinking about, or looking upon other things as well as looking to Him for life eternal. O how I look forward to when I shed this flesh and when all of us can bask in the light of God forever!

Hanging On Desperately

Hanging On Desperately

As is my custom, I listen to Dr J. Vernon McGee on my iPod when I lay down for a nap. Dr McGee talked about the life changing night Jacob became Israel and that he didn't really want to fight anybody, as he had Laban his father-in-law behind him and Esau his twin brother in front of him, and both had been breathing out threats and curses last time he saw them. He said that the angel he fought with was the Preincarnate Jesus (he also cited reasons that this was  what he believed) and that He prodded Jacob until he would wrestle with Him. 

Dr. McGee said that Jesus could have done things differently, but that He needed to cause Jacob's spirit to yield. He then quoted a story he had told previously about a little boy who had gotten in trouble and was therefore sitting in a corner as punishment.
His mother heard a noise and said “Billy, are you sitting down?”
“Yeah”, little Billy replied “but I'm standing up on the inside!”


Dr. McGee said that Jacob wrestled with Jesus until he had nothing left, tied and not strength he could only hang onto the Preincarnate Christ. He then talked about how we too need to yield to God and to hang on to Him just as hard as we can.


Once upon a time, I was like an octopus, my hands doing many things at once and at the end of the day there was a long list of what *I* had done, but as my strength and stamina has declined, God has really been teaching me that He “designs disability, [which has been] designed to produce within us a desperate kind of dependence”. and also that “life with a disability and with Jesus is infinitely better than a healthy body without him.¹” Amen! We are to hang on to God desperately. “God loves those who desperately need him because God delights in being desperately needed. Therefore, in our desperate need, we exult in the truth that he is rich in mercy to meet our needs (Ephesians 2:4).” 

God has caused me to have low energy and pain because then I tire more easily and therefore have been able to fight Him less, which caused me to realize, once I had to slow down enough to think about it, that is, how desperately I do need God and also to hang onto Him because sometimes that is all I can do. There have been times when I can only lay in bed praying and praising God, and Jacob quit fighting the Preincarnate Christ and yielded, he then began to change into Israel. Sure he didn't become mature overnight, none of us do yet as long as we listen to the Spirit, we will continue to grow.
.


I've been trying to memorize the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:23-24), and so I listened to a kids song about them by Steve Green, and in it it says that when Jesus left the earth He left behind the Holy Spirit to be our leader and we are to follow the leader, the Holy Spirit and then we will develop the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. By walking with Him, each day we become more like Him until after many days, we can look back and see a remarkable change in us.

To download the entire 5 Years Thru the Bible radio program by Dr. J. Vernon McGee, click here. To learn more about Bethlehem Baptist Church click here. To listen to Fruits of the Spirit by Steve Green on youtube click here. 
¹ A Letter From Pastor Jason Meyer, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN to see the letter click here. 

Cast Your Cares Word Study

1 Peter 5:7-8 Word Study

(TDNT = Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.)

7 Casting the [a]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [b]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you [c]watchfully.(A) 1 Peter 5:7

Casting (ἐπιὀῥίψαντες)

The aorist* participle denoting an act once for all; throwing the whole life with its care on him.

* 

Definition of Aorist Anx*i"e*ty (#), n.; pl. Anxieties (#). [L. anxietas, fr. anxius: cf. F. anxi\'82t\'82. See Anxious.]67 1. Concern or solicitude respecting some thing o<?/<?/vent, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness.> A"o*rist (#), n. [Gr. indefinite; priv. + to define, boundary, limit.] (Gram.) A tense in the Greek language, which expresses an action as completed in past time, but leaves it, in other respects, wholly indeterminate.

All your care (πᾶσαν τήν μέριμναν)
The whole of your care. "Not every anxiety as it arises, for none will arise if this transference has been effectually made." Care. See on Matthew 6:25, take no thought. Rev., rightly, anxiety.

Matthew 6:25
Take no thought (μὴ μεριμνᾶτε)
The cognate noun is μέριμνα, care, which was formerly derived from μερίς, a part; μερίζω, to divide; and was explained accordingly as a dividing care, distracting the heart from the true object of life, This has been abandoned, however, and the word is placed in a group which carries the common notion of earnest thoughtfulness. It may include the ideas of worry and anxiety, and may emphasize these, but not necessarily. See, for example, "careth for the things of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:32). "That the members should have the same care one for another" (1 Corinthians 12:25). "Who will care for your state?" (Philippians 2:20). In all these the sense of worry would be entirely out of place. In other cases that idea is prominent, as, "the care of this world," which chokes the good seed (Matthew 13:22; compare Luke 8:14). Of Martha; "Thou art careful" (Luke 10:41). Take thought, in this passage, was a truthful rendering when the A. V. was made, since thought was then used as equivalent to anxiety or solicitude. So Shakspeare ("Hamlet"): "The native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought." And Bacon (Henry VII.): "Hawis, an alderman of London, was put in trouble, and died with thought and anguish." Somers' "Tracts" (in Queen Elizabeth's reign): "Queen Catherine Parr died rather of thought."

The word has entirely lost this meaning. Bishop Lightfoot ("On a Fresh Revision of the New Testament") says: "I have heard of a political economist alleging this passage as an objection to the moral teaching of the sermon on the mount, on the ground that it encouraged, nay, commanded, a reckless neglect of the future." It is uneasiness and worry about the future which our Lord condemns here, and therefore Rev. rightly translates be not anxious. This phase of the word is forcibly brought out in 1 Peter 5:7, where the A. V. ignores the distinction between the two kinds of care. "Casting all your care (μέριμναν, Rev., anxiety) upon Him, for He careth (αὐτῳ μέλει) for you," with a fatherly, tender, and provident care."
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.

He careth (μέλει)

Meaning the watchful care of interest and affection. The sixth and seventh verses should be taken together: Humble yourselves and cast all your anxiety. Pride is at the root of most of our anxiety. To human pride it is humiliating to cast everything upon another and be cared for. See James 4:6, 7.

Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.

James 4:6-7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

6 But He gives us more and more grace ([a]power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).(A)

7 So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

Footnotes:

1. James 4:6 Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with A Commentary.
   

Cross references:

1. James 4:6 : Prov. 3:34.
   

Strong's 1 Peter 5:7

Casting <G1977> all <G3956> your <G5216> care <G3308> upon <G1909> him <G846>; for <G3754> he careth <G3199> for <G4012> you <G5216>.
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)

CASTING: <G1977> Greek Word: ἐπιρίπτω Transliteration: epiriptō Phonetic Pronunciation:ep-ir-hrip'-to Root: from <G1909> and <G4496> Cross Reference: TDNT – 6:991,987 Part of Speech: v Vine's Words: Cast Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: cast 2 [Total Count: 2] from <G1909> (epi) and <G4496> (rhipto); to throw upon (literal or figurative) :- cast upon.

ALL: <G3956> Greek Word: πᾶς Transliteration: pas Phonetic Pronunciation: pas Root: including all the forms of declension Cross Reference: TDNT – 5:886,795 Part of Speech: adj Vine's Words: All, Every, Everyone, Everything, Whole, Wholly, Wholesome Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: all 748 all things 170 every 117 all men 41 whosoever 31 everyone 28 whole 12 all manner of 11 every man 11 no + <G3756> 9 every thing 7 any 7 whatsoever 6 whosoever + <G3739> + <G302> 3 always + <G1223> 3 daily + <G2250> 2 any thing 2 no + <G3361> 2 not tr 7 miscellaneous translations 26 [Total Count: 1243] including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole :- all (manner of, means), alway (-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no (-thing), × thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.

YOUR <G5216> Greek Word: ὑμῶν Transliteration: hymōn Phonetic Pronunciation:hoo-mone' Root: genitive case of <G5210> Cross Reference: Part of Speech: pron Vine's Words: None Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: your 359 you 203 ye 9 yours 5 not tr. 1 miscellaneous translations 6 [Total Count: 583] generic of <G5210> (humeis); of (from or concerning) you :- ye, you, your (own, -selves).

CARE: <G3308> Greek Word: μέριμνα Transliteration: merimna Phonetic Pronunciation: mer'-im-nah Root: from <G3307> (through the idea of distraction) Cross Reference: TDNT – 4:589,584 Part of Speech: n f Vine's Words: Care, Careful, Carefully, Carefulness Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: care 6 [Total Count: 6] from <G3307> (merizo) (through the idea of distraction); solicitude :- care.

UPON: <G1909> Greek Word: ἐπί Transliteration: epi Phonetic Pronunciation: ep-ee' Root: a root Cross Reference: Part of Speech: prep Vine's Words: Chamberlain, Follow, Follow after, Inasmuch as, Long Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: on 196 in 120 upon 159 unto 41 to 41 miscellaneous translations 339 [Total Count: 896] a primary preposition properly meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive], i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative) towards, upon, etc. :- about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, × have charge of, (be-, [where-]) fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-) on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through (-out), (un-) to (-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literal or figurative).

HIM: <G846> Greek Word: αὐτός Transliteration: autos Phonetic Pronunciation:ow-tos' Root: from the particle au [perhaps akin to the base of <G109> through the idea of a baffling wind] (backward) Cross Reference: Part of Speech: pronVine's Words: Cause, He, He himself, Myself, Same, Self, SelvesUsage Notes: English Words used in KJV: him 1952 his 1084 their 318 he 253 her 242 they 121 same 80 himself 58 miscellaneous translations 1679 [Total Count: 5787] from the particle au [perhaps akin to the base of <G109> (aer) through the idea of a baffling wind] (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the compound <G1438> (heautou)) of the third person, and (with the properly personal pronoun) of the other persons :- her, it (-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, ([self-], the) same, ([him-, my-, thy-]) self, [your-] selves, she, that, their (-s), them ([-selves]), there [-at, -by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with], they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare <G848> (hautou).

FOR: <G3754> Greek Word: ὅτι Transliteration: hoti Phonetic Pronunciation: hot'-ee Root: neuter of <G3748> as conjunction, demonst. that (sometimes redundant) Cross Reference: Part of Speech: conj Vine's Words: None Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: that 612 for 264 because 173 how that 21 how 11 miscellaneous translations 212 [Total Count: 1293] neuter of <G3748> (hostis) as conjecture; demonstive that (sometimes redundant); causative because :- as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.

CARETH: <G3199> Greek Word: μέλω Transliteration: melō Phonetic Pronunciation:mel'-o Root: a root word Cross Reference: Part of Speech: v Vine's Words: Care, Careful, Carefully, Carefulness Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: care 9 take care 1 [Total Count: 10] a primary verb; to be of interest to, i.e. to concern (only third person singular presumed indicative used impersonal it matters) :- (take) care.

FOR: <G4012> Greek Word: περί Transliteration: peri Phonetic Pronunciation: per-ee' Root: from the base of <G4008> Cross Reference: TDNT – 6:53,827 Part of Speech: prep Vine's Words: Kindle Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: of 148 for 61 concerning 40 about 31 as touching 8 touching 3 whereof + <G3739> 3 not tr 4 miscellaneous translations 33 [Total Count: 331] from the base of <G4008> (peran); properly through (all over), i.e. around; figurative with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the generic denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period) :- (there-) about, above, against, at, on behalf of, × and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, × how it will go with, ([there-, where-]) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, × (e-) state, (as) touching, [where-] by (in), with. In comparison it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).

YOU: <G5216> Greek Word: ὑμῶν Transliteration: hymōn Phonetic Pronunciation: hoo-mone' Root: genitive case of <G5210> Cross Reference: Part of Speech: pron Vine's Words: None Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: your 359 you 203 ye 9 yours 5 not tr. 1 miscellaneous translations 6 [Total Count: 583] generic of <G5210> (humeis); of (from or concerning) you :- ye, you, your (own, -selves).

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [[d]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament

Be sober (νήψατε)
See on 4:7*.
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.

*1 Peter 4:7 Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament 

Is at hand (ἤγγικεν)

Lit., has come near. The word constantly used of the coming of Christ and his kingdom. See Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15; Luke 10:9; Hebrews 10:25.

Be ye sober (σωφρονήσατε)

The word is froth σῶς, sound, and φρήν, the mind. Therefore, as Rev., be ye of sound mind. Compare Mark 5:15.

Watch (νήψατε)

See on 1:13 **. The A. V. has followed the Vulgate, vigilate (watch). Rev. is better: be sober.

Unto prayer (εἰς προσευχάς)

Lit., prayers. The plural is used designedly: prayers of all kinds, private or public. Tynd. renders, Be ye discreet and sober, that ye may be apt to prayers. Compare Ephesians 6:18, "with every kind of prayer, and watching thereunto."

 Word Studies in the New Testament.

**1 Peter 1:13

Gird up (ἀναζωσάμενοι)

Lit., having girded up. Used here only. The metaphor is suggested by the girding up of the loose eastern robes preparatory to running or other exertion. Perhaps recalling the words of Christ, Luke 12:35. Christ's call is a call to active service. There is a fitness in the figure as addressed to sojourners and pilgrims (1:1; 2:11), who must be always ready to move.

Mind (διανοίας)

See on Mark 12:30.

Be sober (νήφοντες)

Lit., being sober. Primarily, in a physical sense, as opposed to excess in drink, but passing into the general sense of self-control and equanimity.

Hope to the end (τελείως ἐλπίσατε)

Better, as Rev., set your hope perfectly: wholly and unchangeably; without doubt or despondency.

That is to be brought (τὴν φερομένην)

Lit., which is being brought, as Rev., in margin. The object of hope is already on the way.
Word Studies in the New Testament.


Be vigilant (γρηγορήσατε)
Rev., be watchful. See on Mark 13:35**; and 1 Thessalonians 5:6, where both verbs occur: watch and be sober. A reminiscence of the scene in Gethsemane: Could ye not watch with me? (Matthew 26:40, 41).
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.

**Mark 13:35
Watch (γρηγορεῖτε)
A different word from that in v. 33. See also v. 34. The picture in this word is that of a sleeping man rousing himself. While the other word conveys the idea of simple wakefulness, this adds the idea of alertness. Compare Mark. 14:38; Luke 12:37; 1 Peter 5:8. The apostles are thus compared with the doorkeepers, v. 34; and the night season is in keeping with the figure. In the temple, during the night, the captain of the temple made his rounds, and the guards had to rise at his approach and salute him in a particular manner. Any guard found asleep on duty was beaten, or his garments were set on fire. Compare Revelation 16:15: "Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments." The preparations for the morning service required all to be early astir. The superintending priest might knock at the door at any moment. The Rabbis use almost the very words in which scripture describes the unexpected coming of the Master. "Sometimes he came at the cockcrowing, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. He came and knocked and they opened to him" (Edersheim, "The Temple").
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.

1 Thessalonians 5:6
Others (οἱ λοιποί)
The rest, as 4:13.
Let us watch (γρηγορῶμεν)
See on Mark 13:35, and comp. Ephesians 5:14.
Be sober (νήφωμεν)
Primarily in a physical sense, as opposed to excess in drink, but passing into the ethical sense of calm, collected, circumspect. Alert wakefulness and calm assurance will prevent their being surprised and confused by the Lord's coming, as by a thief in the night.
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.
Adversary (ὁ αντίδικος)
The article points to a well-known adversary. From ἀντί, against, and δίκη, a lawsuit. Strictly, an adversary in a lawsuit. Here an adversary in general. Compare Zechariah 3:1-5. Only here, in New Testament, of Satan.

^{Zec 3:1 (AMP)} THEN [the guiding angel] showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at Joshua's right hand to be his adversary and to accuse him. ² And the Lord said to Satan, The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! Even the Lord, Who [now and habitually] chooses Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this [returned captive Joshua] a brand plucked out of the fire? ³ Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and was standing before the Angel [of the Lord]. ⁴ And He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And He said to [Joshua], Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel. ⁵ And I [Zechariah] said, Let them put a clean turban on his head. So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich] garments. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
Zechariah 3:1-5 (AMP)

The devil
See on Matthew 4:1. *** THEN JESUS was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil. 

Matthew 4:1 (AMP)

***Matthew 4:1
The Devil (τοῦ διαβόλου)
The word means calumniator, slanderer. It is sometimes applied to men, as to Judas (John 6:70); in 1 Timothy 3:11 (slanderers); and in 2 Timothy 3:3, and Titus 2:3 (false accusers). In such cases never with the article. The Devil, Satan, the god of this world (ὁ διάβολος), is always with the article and never plural. This should be distinguished from another word, also wrongly rendered devil in the A. V.—δαίμων, and its more common neuter form δαιμόνιον, both of which should be translated demon, meaning the unclean spirits which possessed men, and were cast out by Christ and his apostles. The Rev., unfortunately, and against the protest of the American revisers, retains devil for both words, except in Acts 17:18, where it renders as A. V. gods.
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.
Roaring (ὠρυόμενος)
Only here in New Testament. The word conveys somewhat of the sense by the sound (oruomenos). It denotes especially the howl of a beast in fierce hunger.
Lion
Augustine says, "Christ is called 'a lion' (Revelation 5:5) because of his courage: the devil, because of his ferocity. The one lion comes to conquer, the other to hurt." Seven Hebrew words are used for this animal; six to describe his movements and four to describe his roar. He is mentioned in the Bible about one hundred and thirty times. In Job 4:10, 11, five different words are used for him. In Judges 14:5; Psalms 21:13; 103:21 (Sept.), the same word as here is used for the roaring of the lion as a translation of the Hebrew word for the thunder in Job 37:4.

Then one of the elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!
Revelation 5:5 (AMP)

^{Job 4:10 (AMP)} The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken. ¹¹ The old and strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
Job 4:10-11 (AMP)

Then Samson and his father and mother went down to Timnah and came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion roared against him.
Judges 14:5 (AMP)

Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.
Psalm 21:13 (AMP)

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, all you His hosts, you His ministers who do His pleasure.
Psalm 103:21 (AMP)

After it His voice roars; He thunders with the voice of His majesty, and He restrains not [His lightnings against His adversaries] when His voice is heard.
Job 37:4 (AMP)

Walketh about (περιπατεῖ)
Compare Job 1:7; 2:2. This word gave name to that sect of Greek philosophers known as Peripatetics, because they walked about while teaching or disputing. "St. Peter calls Satan the Peripatetic" (Cox, on Job). The Arabs call him the Busy One. It was to Peter that Christ said, "Satan hath desired to have you," etc. (Luke 22:31).

And the Lord said to Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it.
Job 1:7 (AMP)

And the Lord said to Satan, From where do you come? And Satan (the adversary and the accuser) answered the Lord, From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it.
Job 2:2 (AMP)

Devour (καταπιῃ)
Lit., swallow down. See on Matthew 23:24.
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.

Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain, Luke 22:31 (AMP)

You blind guides, filtering out a gnat and gulping down a camel!
Matthew 23:24 (AMP)

Matthew 23:24
Strain at (διυλίξοντες) 
διά, thoroughly or through, and ὑλίζω, to filter or strain. Strain at is an old misprint perpetuated. Hence the Rev. correctly, as Tynd., strain out. Insects were ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:20, 23, 41, 42), so that the Jews strained their wine in order not to swallow any unclean animal. Moreover, there were certain insects which bred in wine. Aristotle uses the word gnat (κώνωπα) of a worm or larva found in the sediment of sour wine. "In a ride from Tangier to Tetuan I observed that a Moorish soldier who accompanied me, when he drank, always unfolded the end of his turban and placed it over the mouth of his bota, drinking through the muslin to strain out the gnats, whose larvae swarm in the water of that country" (cited by Trench, "On the Authorized Version").
Swallow (καταπίνοντες)
The rendering is feeble. It is drink down (κατά); gulp. Note that the camel was also unclean (Leviticus 11:4).
Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament.

Nevertheless these you shall not eat of those that chew the cud or divide the hoof: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you.
Leviticus 11:4 (AMP)

1 Peter 4:7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

7 But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound minded and self-restrained and alert therefore for [the practice of] prayer.

1 Peter 5:8

Strong's

Be sober <G3525>, be vigilant <G1127>; because <3754> your <G5216> adversary <G476> the devil <G1228>, as <G5613> a roaring <G5612> lion <G3023>, walketh about <G4043>, seeking <G2212K> whom <G5101> he may devour <G2666>:

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

SOBER <G3525> Greek Word: νήφω Transliteration: nēphō Phonetic Pronunciation: nay'-fo Root: of uncertain affinity Cross Reference: TDNT – 4:936,633 Part of Speech: v Vine's Words: Sober, Soberly, Soberminded, Watch, Watchers, Watchful, Watchings Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: be sober 4 watch 2 [Total Count: 6] of uncertain affinity; to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figurative) be discreet :- be sober, watch.

VIGILANT <G1127> Greek Word: γρηγορέω Transliteration: grēgoreō Phonetic Pronunciation: gray-gor-yoo'-o Root: from <G1453> Cross Reference: TDNT – 2:338,195 Part of Speech: v Vine's Words: Wake, Watch, Watchers, Watchful, Watchings Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: watch 21 wake 1 be vigilant 1 [Total Count: 23] from <G1453> (egeiro); to keep awake, i.e. watch (literal or figurative) :- be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful).

BECAUSE <3754> Greek Word: ὅτιz Transliteration: hoti Phonetic Pronunciation:hot'-ee Root: neuter of <G3748> as conjunction, demonst. that (sometimes redundant) Cross Reference: Part of Speech: conj Vine's Words: None Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: that 612 for 264 because 173 how that 21 how 11 miscellaneous translations 212 [Total Count: 1293] neuter of <G3748> (hostis) as conjecture; demonstive that (sometimes redundant); causative because :- as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.

YOUR <G5216> Greek Word: ὑμῶν Transliteration: hymōn Phonetic Pronunciation:hoo-mone'Root: genitive case of <G5210> Cross Reference: Part of Speech: pron Vine's Words: None Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: your 359 you 203 ye 9 yours 5 not tr. 1 miscellaneous translations 6 [Total Count: 583] generic of <G5210> (humeis); of (from or concerning) you :- ye, you, your (own, -selves).

ADVERSARY <G476> Greek Word: ἀντίδικος Transliteration: antidikos Phonetic Pronunciation:an-tid'-ee-kos Root: from <G473> and <G1349> Cross Reference: TDNT – 1:373,62 Part of Speech: n m Vine's Words: Adversary Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: adversary 5 [Total Count: 5] from <G473> (anti) and <G1349> (dike); an opponent (in a lawsuit); specially Satan (as the arch-enemy) :- adversary.

DEVIL <G1228> Greek Word: διάβολος Transliteration: diabolos Phonetic Pronunciation:dee-ab'-ol-os Root: from <G1225> Cross Reference: TDNT – 2:72,150 Part of Speech: adj Vine's Words: Accuser, Devil, Devlish, Slandered Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: devil 35 false accuser 2 slanderer 1 [Total Count: 38] from <G1225> (diaballo); a traducer; specially Satan [compare <H7854> (satan)] :- false accuser, devil, slanderer.

AS <G5613> Greek Word: ὡς Transliteration: hōs Phonetic Pronunciation: hoce Root: probably from comparative from <G3739> Cross Reference: Part of Speech: adv Vine's Words: About, According as, Even (Adverb; etc.), Even as, Even so, Like, Like (as to; unto), Like (be), Like (make), Like (things), Liken, Wist, Wit Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: as 342 when 42 how 18 as it were 20 about 14 miscellaneous translations 56 [Total Count: 492] probably adverb of comparative from <G3739> (hos); which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows) :- about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when ([-soever]), while, × with all speed.

ROARING <G5612> Greek Word: ὠρύομαι Transliteration: ōryomai Phonetic Pronunciation: o-roo'-om-ahee Root: middle voice of an apparently primary verb Cross Reference: Part of Speech: v Vine's Words: Roar, Roaring Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: roaring 1 [Total Count: 1] middle of an apparently primary verb; to “roar” :- roar.

LION <G3023> Greek Word: λέων Transliteration: leōn Phonetic Pronunciation: leh-ohn' Root: a root word Cross Reference: TDNT – 4:251,531 Part of Speech: n m Vine's Words: Lion Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: lion 9 [Total Count: 9] a primary word; a “lion” :- lion.

WALKETH ABOUT <G4043>, Greek Word: περιπατέω Transliteration: peripateō Phonetic Pronunciation:per-ee-pat-eh'-o Root: from <G4012> and <G3961> Cross Reference: TDNT – 5:940,804 Part of Speech: vine's Words: Occupy, Walk Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: walk 93 go 1 walk about 1 be occupied 1 [Total Count: 96] from <G4012> (peri) and <G3961> (pateo); to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figurative to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary) :- go, be occupied with, walk (about).

SEEKING <G2212K> Greek Word: ζητέω Transliteration: zēteō Phonetic Pronunciation:dzay-teh'-o Root: of uncertain affinity Cross Reference: TDNT – 2:892,300 Part of Speech: v Vine's Words: Endeavor, Inquire, Inquiry, Require, SeekUsage Notes: English Words used in KJV: seek 100 seek for 5 go about 4 desire 3 miscellaneous translations 7 [Total Count: 119] of uncertain affinity; to seek (literal or figurative); specially (by Hebrew) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life) :- be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (× will) seek (after, for, means). Compare <G4441> (punthanomai).

WHOM <G5101> Greek Word: τίς Transliteration: tis Phonetic Pronunciation: tis Root: probably emphat. of <G5100> Cross Reference: Part of Speech: pron Vine's Words: Nothing Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: what 260 who 102 why 66 whom 25 which 17 miscellaneous translations 67 [Total Count: 537] probably emphatical of <G5100> (tis); an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions) :- every man, how (much), + no (-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where ([-by, -fore, -of, -unto, -with, -withal]), whether, which, who (-m, -se), why.

HE MAY DEVOUR <G2666> Greek Word: καταπίνω Transliteration: katapinō Phonetic Pronunciation:kat-ap-ee'-no Root: from <G2596> and <G4095> Cross Reference: TDNT – 6:158,841 Part of Speech: v Vine's Words: Devour, Drown, Swallow Usage Notes: English Words used in KJV: swallow 4 swallow 1 drown 1 devour 1 [Total Count: 7] from <G2596> (kata) and <G4095> (pino); to drink down, i.e. gulp entire (literal or figurative) :- devour, drown, swallow (up).