Nougat 31

Ever wondered what happens to a ‘lost case’ when we’re sifted? Here’s today’s Holy Nougat

““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.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:31-32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So was Jesus prayer answered yes?

Knowing all Jesus did, His prayer was that Simon’s faith would not fail. Was that a wasted prayer? Because He knew what was asked concerning Peter. Jesus said as much to Peter. He (Jesus) knew what Peter’s response would be. For all Peter’s good intentions, Jesus knew the sifting would separate Peter from his affirmation of faith in Jesus. His last comment confirms it!

Yet Jesus prayed that Peter would not lose his faith.

Could it be that just act of disobedience is not all it takes to lose our faith? Could it be that when we fall away during the sifting, all isn’t lost? Could it be that it is especially in those times that Jesus is interceding for us?

Now as Paul said, let’s not receive Christ’s intercession as permission to sin. Far from it! Rather, because Grace abounds; like Peter ie Simon (and Paul who also underwent his own sifting), Jesus expects us to go back and help others. I assure us, painful and somewhat humbling (ie humiliating) as it is; that’s how we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord despite messing up during our season/s of sifting.

We often buy into the lie that when we walk away there’s no turning back; and that covering up is our only recourse. No, nope, not at all. That’s a lie from the pits of Hell. Remember when Adam and Eve tried their own cover up in Genesis 3? It didn’t work.

A. Those leaves were strictly stop gap – their righteousness was as filthy rags

B. If a covenant is broken it requires a new covenant to repair it; well actually to restore it. A covenant that carried greater authority than human frailty. That’s what we find in Jesus.

And that’s why His prayer was not in vain. For when Peter came to this realization once again; it is what propelled him to effect transformation with the others. It’s what will transform us!

So, if Jesus’ prayer wasn’t in vain; we should perhaps consider praying for lost cases – that we find our way back to Christ and find the courage to use our experience to encourage others. Let’s not waste Jesus’ prayer

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May all we seek be found in Christ