Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”
There are certain times in our walk with the Lord that will include sifting. We will have trials, difficult moments and tests, all of which is part of God’s plan for our life. The sifting has a definite purpose.
The process:
In order to sift out the edible grain from the chaff , the wheat was thrown on the ground. This process is called threshing. The ground was most likely stone and the wheat was beaten with a flail. A flail consisted of a metal rod with chains on the end. Sometimes the flail had a ball with spikes. The word itself means to strike with repeated blows.
The next step in sifting is called winnowing. Here the workers would throw the wheat into the air and the breeze would separate the chaff from the grain. The grain which was heavier would land back on the stone floor, and the chaff would be taken by the breeze. The chaff would land farther from the original stone.
If you notice, Jesus identified Peter as wheat and not chaff. He knew that he would land on the stone or rock, and be fruitful once the process ended.
Sifting is important for several reasons. We are purged from self, from pride, and we learn not to rely on ourselves but on God. The chaff in our life will be removed.
When the sifting is complete, we will be strong enough to encourage and strengthen our brothers and sisters in the Lord, and move onto greater and mightier things.
Peter was shaken, tossed, beaten in his faith, but guess what. He landed on the rock, even when he denied Jesus three times.
Perhaps you have had a time in your life where you feel that you have been beaten repeatedly, and then tossed into the air. Just like Peter, you too will land on the rock!
One thing is certain, the sifting ended and the work was complete in Peter.
May the sifting come to an end, and may you rise up in what the Lord has for you, which is His good and perfect will for your life.
May you be richly blessed this day.
