Have you been sifted lately?
Sifting... it's not a word most people think about much in their daily lives, most, probably have never even used the word. In Luke 22:31 Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat" I find this verse particularly thought provoking. First of all that Satan would ask if he could... and the fact that God said yes! But that's another story for another day.What I want to focus on is the word "sift" what does this sifting process look like in our lives. when I looked up the original word used for sift, what I found was the meaning was... "to sift, shake in a sieve. by inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow". In other words things that are working inwardly that are just overwhelming to the point of being overtaken by them. And I started to think how if I were to sift flour or whatever, the process dictates that the "good parts" are sifted out, and the bad are left behind. So that we can get rid of the bad. We tend to think all the bad gets sifted out, and the good is left but I believe that is where we miss what God is really doing.
Anyway... I believe that God allows us all to be "sifted" by situations and circumstances in our lives, maybe not so much as a way of removing the junk, (that we all have) but to move all of the good out of the way so we can truly see and deal with the junk that is being hidden.
What a weird and not often accepted concept. "God removing the good so we are stuck with the bad!?" But let's be honest, if we have junk, the last thing we want to do is have to look at it, because then we have to deal with it. And dealing with our junk is painful, and hard, and sometimes humiliating so we would rather believe that we can somhow hide it and pretend it's not there hoping and praying that God will magically take it away because He loves us and only wants the best for us. And when the trials of life come (and they will/do) and the junk rises to the surface, we do all we can to "give it to God" and and let Him deal with it... actually that means for most people (not all) that we really don't do anything but stuff it all back inside hoping it will disappear one day. Until.... the circumstances of life come back around and it all resurfaces. And we begin the cycle all over again.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
P.Shane
posted by pshane @ 9:17 AM
5 Comments:
Excellent point, we do need to look at ourselves realisticly. I've been reading Matters of the heart by Juanita Bynum and am realizing I don't have God's heart of love and commpassion. Compared to human love I may think I do, But when compared to his love for us I really don't. But, I'm asking for it. Amen
Let me take the sifting a little further. When you are sifting something, say flour, you have large lumps left in the sieve (sin, unforgiveness, junk, etc.). Well, you don’t just throw the flour away, if it is at all usable. What you do is press the lumps through the sieve, and they come through fine and usable. The Lord will take our “lumps” and push them through the sieve and we are usable—this sifting is where the pain comes from. Sifting our good parts through doesn’t hurt too much, as they are fine, however those lumps of sin, anger, unforgiveness, etc. really hurt when they are pushed through those tiny holes! Thank Jesus for shedding His blood, for without it, we would never make it through. When our flesh feels too weak to change, and it looks like we won’t make it through the tiny holes of God’s sieve, He (Jesus) is right there ready, willing and able to help us in our weakness, to get through the sieve, as long as we abide in Him. He is our strength when we are weak.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. NKJ
Luke 22:31, 31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren. NKJ
Sifting is never a fun thing, but like the flour which once sifted makes for a wonderful cake (murder by chocolate maybe?), we can be used in wonderful ways by the Lord. We then stand not only as witness to the Lord, but an example – proof the Lord can make a “silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” The proof is not in the pudding, but in the cake. So keep in mind, the pain we go through will glorify the Lord in the end.
sometimes there is foreign stuff in the flour bag that needs to be thrown out completely. Especially if the bag is old or hasn't been sealed well. Rocks, sticks and even bugs come with the wheat...
mercyoverme says
I am thankful for my God that cares enough about me and my life that He lovingly takes the time to "Sift" me. So that I have the opportunity to always better myself for Him. I am thankful that He doesn't leave me on the "shelf" and wait for me to take care of me, or He doesn't settle for less and use me the way I am all the time. Which is not a good thing. I always mess up .
Sifting shows me that my God needs me to be sifted , to become more like Him, loving and caring.
My sifting, sifts out pride and selfishness ( to name a few things), and keeps me focused on my LOrd and His ways.
Just like sifting is a constant process, for each time the flour is used,...I beleive that sifting in my life will be a constant process and that I shouldn't dread it each time I am sifted. But rather thank my Lord for it each and every time.
Because He loves me and cares that much for me.....each time !
this is some good stuff...i'm waiting for the continuation, though...
....
it's interesting, the whole sifting thing, really...it's true about the lumps that are left behind when you sift flour...i've sifted plenty of flour in my life, and i have seen hard lumps of flour that don't go through the sifter...so often with those i will pick them up and break them down some in my hands and then sift them some more...
eventually there will be small, small lumps...i really can't do much of anything with them except throw them away...
i know there are times in my life when it has felt like the Lord was picking up some of the lumps and breaking them down...it was almost like this one huge thing in my life was picked up and suddenly broken down into smaller things, and somehow, even though there were a few more of them, it seemed easier to understand and deal with...
does that make sense?...hopefully it does...
it's interesting how the Lord does things, isn't it?...
i'm sure there are some folks out there who would love to see more on this blog...myself included...
thanks for shaing this, pastor shane...see you soon...
blessings,
-ramona anne
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