Luke 22:31-32
“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’”
The sifting process is a separation of the pure from the impure. The shaking and tossing can cause discomfort and pain, but the object is to have the grain separated from the chaff and husks. The wind (a picture of the Holy Spirit) blows away the “junk” of life and leaves the grain of spiritual truth.
There it is. We need never complain about the times of “sifting” which come into our life. In these times we can keep our eyes upon the Lord and seek to be conformed into His image. We can hasten the process by getting rid of those things in our life which are not the pure grain. We can even pray that God will show us those things which are not right and pure so we can get rid of them ourselves.
Here is a word for those who are being “sifted” at the present time. Do not be discouraged with a sense of failure. Draw near to the Lord and picture yourself as the prodigal son heading back home to the father after his time spent in the pig pens of the world. Just as his father eagerly welcomed the prodigal home, so will our heavenly Father meet us with open arms of love and acceptance.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil