NECESSARY
SIFT
Fifth
of seven in Let’s Get Busy Series
Luke
22:31-34
Luke
22:31-33: “Simon,
Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith would not fail. And after you have turned back, strengthen
your brothers.”
“But
he [Simon] replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’”
Everyone will face
at least one time when life seems impossible to endure. Sometimes it’s something we’ve done to
ourselves. Other times, a problem comes
from someone or somewhere else. These
are times when believers in Christ are tested.
Devotions “Mental Grid” and “Blessings During Trouble,”
both posted in June, 2014, are two such examples where a dad lost his job. When a dad cannot provide for his family,
that is a major sifting experience. Millions
of American jobs went overseas beginning around 2001. Hundreds of millions of people lost their
livelihood. How can adults provide for
their family without a paycheck?
Joblessness is just one example of how people are
tested. There are many other ways to
sift people. Where do the homeless go? Who feeds those who have no food? How do parents handle a death of their baby? Who raises orphaned children?
How does one go on after making a terrible mistake? Jesus informs Simon, “I
tell you Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that
you know Me.” (Luke 22:35).
Let’s reread the opening scripture. Jesus knows every test that people face
because He allows it! He prays for us so that our faith will not
fail. And Jesus knows the future. He shows us how we’re to continue living.
When times are good, we’re confident—like Simon Peter
was.
“I’ll go with you to prison, even to death!” he
insists.
Sifting—or testing—is
where people grow. Read the lesson
linked below to see how Simon Peter handled his sifting experience.
Sifting prepares believers for bigger challenges. Testing shows us our strengths and
weaknesses. Growing through sifting prepares
believers for greater service. Our faith
is strengthened. Sifting transforms
believers into super believers.
Take
Home Nugget
Why
does Jesus allow us to be sifted? Jesus
allowed Simon Peter’s because He counted on Peter to lead His disciples. But peter wasn’t ready…until after he matured
from the sifting process.
Sifting separates the wheat from the chaff: separating
the righteous from the ungodly areas of our lives. Jesus is counting on us for great things for
God’s kingdom, too. Sifting matures us
to learn that we’re always on the job—where God is boss—not us!
One day, we’ll look back on our lives
and see
How God sifted away the bad, and prepared
greatness for you and me.
J.D.
Griffith
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