Sifting

Daily Reading: Luke 22

Scripture Focus:  Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. (Luke 22.31-32)

Devotional Thought:  Satan had to ask permission to test or sift Peter and the others, just as he had with Job a millennium before.  Satan is powerful, but he cannot destroy us.  He sifts us with various trials and suffering - but only as much as God allows. Satan's power is limited by God!

Why does God allow Satan to have any power at all? Perhaps God permits Satan to persist in his "sifting" work so that in the end it will be good for us and will bring more glory to God. Also, God intends to bring us to perfection through affliction and temptation (1 Peter 1.6; 3.17).  And, as we suffer with Christ, we will be glorified with him (Romans 8.17).  

Jesus went on to say, "But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail."  Jesus aims to keep Simon's faith from failing – to withstand the sifting.  It is comforting to know we are on someone’s prayer list when we are going through trials, temptations, financial setbacks, family problems, illness and all the things that could cause us to lose faith. But, how much more comforting to know that Jesus, our great Intercessor, is praying for us as he did for Peter.  Speaking of Jesus, the writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7.25, NKJV).

Finally, when you are being "sifted like wheat," remember that God may use you to strengthen another's faith, just as he did with Peter.

Dale Noel

Prayer: Lord, though the "sifting" is not pleasant at the time, help me to remember that you are praying for me, the trials are refining me, and you will use me to help others as well.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 144.9-15

9 I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,

10 who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.

11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12 May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace;

13 may our granaries be full, providing all kinds of produce; may our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;

14 may our cattle be heavy with young, suffering no mishap or failure in bearing; may there be no cry of distress in our streets!

15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall! Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!