Luke 22:31-32

New International Version

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

For Meditation

The schemes of the devil are subtle and ensnaring. Without the Lord, we have no chance against them.

We feel spiritually solid and impregnable because we know our word and pray. People recognize our spiritual vitality and maturity. They respond with respect and come to us for counseling. When the allegation came against that brother for sexual impropriety, who else could they appoint to lead the investigation than us?

We breeze through the case without mercy. “How could he do such a thing after the Pastor’s excellent teaching and recent sermon series? And he is not even repentant enough.” So, we recommend the harshest disciplinary action and move on.

Sometime later, you travel on business. A meeting lingers, and you dine late and alone in the dimly lit hotel restaurant. The lady across from your table sends you an occasional parcel of smiles. You pay no attention at first, but she persists. You sit there with confidence and give her a cocky smile in response, “Not me, lady! Go get one of your types somewhere.”

The next day, you are on a flight home, lost in your thoughts. “How did it happen? How can I face my wife today? Do I have the guts to confess it? How will the church react if they hear about it?”

The fact is, we are very human and weak in this world without our Savior. We will always fall until we acknowledge this and humble ourselves under His Sovereign protection and constant intercession (Rm. 8:34). Pride is our worst enemy. Still, we can hardly believe we are swimming in its warm pool.

Follow the discourse of Jesus with the disciples at the Last Supper table with me as Dr. Luke tells the story, and let’s observe some things together.

Jesus warned the disciples against the leadership style of the world, recommended His servanthood model in its place (Lk. 22:24-30), and addressed Peter in his self-confident posture.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (31-32).

To appreciate the force of Jesus’s statement, walk through Peter’s failures after this event with me. He slept in Gethsemane (45), followed the Lord at a distance after His arrest (54), denied the Lord three times as the Lord predicted (55-62), absent from the crucifixion scene (Matthew 27:55-56), failed to grasp the resurrection report from the women (Luke 24:11-12), and went back to his old business (John 21:3). It was all downhill until the Lord intervened and restored him after the fishing fiasco on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias (15-19). Do you see how worse things could have been for Peter without the Lord’s intercessory prayer?

So, let’s take the admonition of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12 seriously and appreciate Jesus’s current intercessory ministry in heaven on our behalf.

“If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Shalom