“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32).

In  today’s lesson Lorraine Hill explores the incident where Peter denies the Lord three times before the cock crows.  I love this story.  Isn’t God wonderful to show how the “bible heroes” make mistakes, just like we do, and yet God is able to use them to further His kingdom.  There are some important points in this lesson that we can all apply to our lives and I want to touch on them in this post:

• Satan asks the Lord’s permission to sift Simon Peter – the same way Satan asked God for permission to test Job.  We must see that he will want to sift us too.  But we belong to God and He is good; so we can be reassured that when we are allowed us to experience difficulties, it will be for our good.  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).
• Jesus prays for Peter, that (1) his faith would not fail and that, in the end, (2) the brethern would benefit from his experience (Luke 22:32).  Jesus also prays for us in the same way: Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:33-34).
• Peter’s pride sets him up for this fall.  Not only does he disagree with Jesus that he will deny Him in the first place, but Peter goes so far as to say, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matt 26:33).  Lorraine Hill points out that Peter is tested and fails in the area where he is the strongest – his zeal for the Lord.  We must remember that like Peter, we can fail, even in our strong areas, because of self-righteous pride.  We should not boast even in our own strengths, because we are what God has made us to be.  Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends (2 Cor 10:17).  We must not put our confidence in ourselves, but in the Lord.  God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you (James 4:6-10).
• Peter’s “sifting” was a refining process and a preparation for greater ministry opportunities.  Much later, Peter  writes, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7)…And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).  As Jesus prayed, Peter learned from personal experience about trials and can now encourage others.
• Peter’s responds to his failure with humility – he had a teachable heart.  When he was sifted, the chaff was driven out and the wheat remained; that which was not of God was removed, and that which was useful to God remained. Jesus will do that for us too.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire (Luke 3:17).

That is why we are told, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths (Prov 3:5-6).  When difficulties come, we may not understand God’s plan, but we must trust in His wisdom and goodness and He will make our paths straight.

JustaGirl…just like you