SIFTING

Luke 22:31

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.

The first time I read the above verse my mind immediately went to watching my grandmother sifting flour for chocolate cobbler. The flour was an important part of the cobbler. In fact, it was the crust made from the flour that made the cobbler a cobbler! It was my all-time favorite dessert that my maternal grandmother made. The aroma of that cobbler coming from the oven was almost more than a little noy could bear.

Grandmother would start with a big bowl and an odd-looking device called a sifter. It was silver in color with a red wooden handle, and it had seen its better days. Sifting the flour was a significant step in making mouth watering chocolate cobbler. I wish I had gotten the recipe, but I’m sure it wouldn’t taste the same anyway.

OK, I have my mind back on spiritual things.

Jesus would soon leave His Church in the hands of twelve not-so-stable men. The leader of the crew was none other than Simon Peter, presumptive and a little rough around the edges to say the least. Jesus had taught Peter all He could for three and a half years, but His time on earth was coming to an end. Now it’s Satan’s turn.

For some reason we tend to think God’s sole purpose is to protect us from the tests, temptations, and unpleasant trials of life. When in fact, it is God’s purpose to prepare us for those things that are going to come in life, not protect us from them. This fisherman was about to assume the leadership of the world-wide Church. He didn’t need protection, he needed preparation. Jesus said to Simon, “The devil desires to sift you, and I’m going to allow it.” Howbeit, He also said, “I’m going to pray for you, and when you are sifted you will be strong enough to strengthen your brothers.”

Christians don’t live in cocoons, they live real lives, with real problems, in a real world. God is going to allow Satan to sift anyone whom He sees as significant in His will on earth. It’s the sifting of our faith that leads to patience and spiritual maturity. Sifting gets the lumps out - those things that hinder our walk with God, as well as our witness to the world.

If you find yourself in Satan’s sifter, remember this: you are in the sifter because God sees your significance, or He is preparing you for your next assignment. Most of all, never forget God has not left you alone. He is interceding for you that your faith will not fail. That’s how you have always made it out – Jesus was praying for you, just like He did Simon.

Maybe this past year was a season of sifting, or perhaps it will come in the year ahead. Allow it to strengthen your faith in God, and to use you to minister to others who may be in a season of sifting.

Suggested Reading: Luke 22:31-32, James 1:2-7, Hebrews 7:25