Simon, Simon

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Dear Family,

I recently wrote to you about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego walking in the fiery furnace. As I considered those thoughts these thoughts rushed into my mind almost overshadowing the others.

The 22ond chapter of Luke is the account of the last supper covering the moments before and the moments after including Simon Peter’s denying Christ. So let me see if I can get this thought untangled from the others that came with it.

Jesus had selected the 12 to be His first chosen to carry His message to the world and start the church age. It is easy for us to assume that the disciples were – quote Christians – from the time Christ chose them to the time of their deaths. This story brings into question that thought. Then just maybe the message here is to forewarn each Christian that Satan desires to have a Christian, a disciple, a follower of Christ under his control. That to have someone known to be associated with Christ would be a far greater trophy and testament to his cause than someone not associated with Christ.

Lu 22:31 - 32

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.

Satan hath desired to have you. Satan is the prince of evil. One of his works is to try the faith of every believer -- to place temptations and trials in their way that they may be tested and just perhaps may stumble and fall or remain faithful. Thus God gave Job into his hands, that it might be seen whether he would be found faithful, or would apostatize. So Satan desired to have Peter in his hands, that he might also try him and “May sift you as wheat.” Grain was agitated or shaken in a kind of sieve and fan. The grain remained in the sieve, while the chaff and dust were blown off. So Christ says that Satan desired to try Peter; to place trials and temptations before him; to agitate him; to see whether anything of faith would remain, or whether all would be found to be chaff blown away by the first strong wind. Was his excitement real or was it just a new fad and false professions.

Sometimes the trials and testing people face are to bring them to the point of conversion or repentance as it appears to have been with Peter. Peter had been walking with Christ. He had been with the 12 and was indeed one of the 12 but maybe he had not been converted. His heart was still centered on himself. He was just religious. He was just chasing a cause. He knew about Christ but just maybe he did not yet know Christ. He was with Christ and around Christ but he had not given his heart to Christ. Or could it be that Peter was a true believer but was just about to be put through a test of his commitment. “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat”. Satan wants to toss you around, sift you, shake your faith, and throw it into the wind to let it blow away. He wants to expose your faith to the strong winds that are meant to blow away only the chaff to try to blow away your faith and confidence. He desires to toss you about and to put you under the pressure and heat of years of trials to break you so he can have you criticize and curse God and Christ. Satan desires you that he may destroy your witness. He wants to destroy your example. If he can cause you to lose your temper and cause you to act like a non Christian then He has broken you and strengthened his cause. He just wants to use you to be a stumbling block that causes someone else to reject Christ or to lose their confidence.

We consider the effects our actions have on our small children but we fail to realize that our actions can also strengthen or weaken someone who maybe watching how we live. It breaks my heart when I know I have done something unbecoming of what I profess. And that is a trophy to Satan when he is able to push me beyond my comfort zone. I am a “good” Christian as long as the winds of trial are not blowing in my face. Maybe that is where Simon Peter was. He was a good disciple as long as things were going good but had an undisciplined tongue. I am a good Christian when and where it is popular, expected or tolerated. Just don’t ask me to go out a limb and stand up for Christ when the winds of trials blow. I am a good Christian; just don’t ask me to stand alone among the mockers. I’ll be the good Christian just don’t ask me say it or show it. I’ll be the good Christian just don’t sift me as wheat.

I do not have the privilege to determine when and where the wind of testing will blow. It will blow when I am not prepared but it just may serve to prepare me. It will blow when I doubt that His grace is sufficient.

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”. Christ has prayed for each of us that we will have faith to endure the trials and testing -- and why? So we can strengthen the brethren. And if we fail the test then what “and when thou art converted,”? The Greek word translated as (converted) here is the same word used as (repent) in other places.

Jesus made this statement to Simon Peter in the presence of all the disciples. The real jest of the words is this; as for you my disciples in general, and for you Simon Peter in particular, I must tell you, that Satan has accused you all before God, and desires that he may have the sifting of you all by his winnowing winds of temptation and persecution, that he may shake your faith, and weaken your confidence; but I have prayed for you all, and particularly for you who are in greatest danger of falling, because you are so confident of your own strength and standing, that your faith, though severely shaken, may not utterly fail; and when by repentance you are recovered from your fall, be careful to confirm and strengthen others, that they may not fall in like manner.

Satan winnowing winds of temptation and persecution are not to blow away the chaff it is to attempt to blow away the corn and wheat. He wants to break me and destroy my confidence. He wants to destroy my faith. He wants to destroy my witness. But I must be strong and look to Christ who has over come. I must be strong and let only the chaff blow away so I will be stronger, more faithful and a better example.

Should I pray Lord test me, try me, put me through the trials that will make me what I must be to serve you and know you as you desire me to know you.

Love ya

Dad

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