Tuesday, March 23, 2010
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."
MOMENTOUS WORDS TO PETER
The words quoted above are surely momentous words of our Lord. While spoken to Simon Peter, we will see that they also have application to us. In the course of our lives, we all receive sobering messages. A loved one is rushed to the hospital and the message is relayed over the phone. Another has learned that he has serious, progressive cancer. These kinds of messages should stop us in our tracks, and bring us to our knees--in prayer.
But the message that Jesus had for Simon wasn't merely sobering, it was downright frightening. For after earnestly repeating his name to get his attention, the Son of God passed on this news: "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat."
Satan asked God for (and it appears obtained) permission to "sift as wheat" not just Peter, but all of the disciples (the pronoun "you" is plural). They were about to be "put through the ringer" in a series of trials.
How would we react to a message like this? I would hope we would react with fear and with a humble spirit. In such a circumstance we would surely welcome words like those Jesus spoke to Peter: "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail" (Luke 22:32).
God preserve us from thinking ourselves invincible because of our will power or perceived strength of faith. If we enter into temptation thinking that "we can handle it because we have a strong faith" we will stumble and fall. If we put ourselves in a position to be tempted to sin because we fancy ourselves strong, we are fools.
I'm not saying this to make you afraid. Let me remind you that the same Lord Jesus also prayed for you (John 17:20). He did more than pray for you. He died for you, so that when you stumble into sin you may know that your sins have been paid for through His Blood. Yes, and even now He pleads for you--intercedes for you and me at the throne of God (Romans 8:34).
