In Satan’s Sieve
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:31, 32
Read Luke 22:31-34
The fact that Simon Peter believed in Christ becomes evident in the Gospels. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “Flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto you but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 16:17) Faith is a gift of God, but often our faith is not perfect. Simon stumbled a number of times because he did not have clear insight into the actual work of Christ. He thought too much of himself, which brought him into dangerous circumstances. Satan also knew Peter’s weaknesses and made use of the opportunity to cause Peter to fall, especially during the night that the Lord Jesus was betrayed. Satan caught Peter in his sieve. Christ allowed it, but the Lord did not
let go of Peter. In Caiaphas’ home, Peter seemed to hang on a silken thread over the pit of hell. If it had depended upon Peter, he would have perished in the depths of hell, eternally lost. But the Lord Jesus prayed for him. He did not pray that His Father would spare Peter from the tempter’s terrible sieve, but He prayed that Peter would be kept safe while in that sieve.
This temptation was necessary to help Peter understand that the Lord was going to the cross also for him, to be the Surety and the Saviour of his sins. When Peter wept bitter tears while leaving the courtyard, the words of Christ upheld him: “I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” Only in Christ will faith remain secure, regardless of how weak, how small and faltering it is.
Question: Have you seen circumstances in your life functioning like Satan’s sieve?
Psalter 345:2 (based on Psalm 121) Thy protector is the Lord, Shade for thee He will afford; Neither sun nor moon shall smite, God will guard by day and night. He will ever keep thy soul, What would harm He will control; In the home and by the way He will keep Thee day by day.