The Sifting

"Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:31-32 (NRSV)

What a thought! Satan asking....God granting....sifting. A shake down of faith.

The question is does Satan still ask this of God today? About us?

It's an interesting thought. Remember Job's sifting? What if some of the things we go through are actual siftings...a testing of our faith. Satan means for it to tear us down, God allows it to build us up. It would be consistent with what James says in chp. 1.

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4 (NRSV)

and what Peter wrote....

In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NRSV)

I hope our faith is on the rise. The sifting shouldn't surprise us and it should not discourage us. Whatever happens....have faith in God!
Deny