Sifting requires a good bit of energy. When Melanie makes her mother’s pound cake recipe, we have to sift. Melanie sifts for a while and then I sift for a while. Right-handed and then left-handed, taking turns, we sift. It takes a lot of time and strength to sift. It can make your forearm sore. But sifting is not nearly as painful as being sifted. I speak from experience.
On the night of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, Peter made all kinds of promises. He claimed to be the least likely of the twelve to deny Jesus. Jesus had renamed him Peter at his conversion. But from time to time, the big fisherman slid back into “Simon.” “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat.” Satan loves to sift. He never gets tired of destroying the lives of the disciples of Jesus. Do we believe that he is a roaring lion seeking to devour us? We should.
If I were Simon, I might have said, “Well how did you answer him? Did you tell him ‘no’?” Jesus’ answer gave hope and encouragement, “But I have prayed for you.” Whatever happens to us today, we know as followers of Jesus, our Lord is interceding for us in the presence of the Father. Jesus envisioned hope and a future for Simon. “After you have returned, strengthen your brothers.”
Somebody who reads this has been sifted this week. Or you sense Satan wants to sift you. Jesus is praying for you. I’m praying for you. Even though you have sinned, it is not too late, nor too early to return to the Lord. He stands waiting to receive us and forgive us. Don’t waste a minute. The work God is about to do in our lives will not only help us but others who need to be helped. Wounded healers are the very best kind. Get out of the sifter and stand in the strength of the Lord. Help others out of their own sifters. Use both hands if you have to!
