God is faithful to continue the work of forming you. He has begun a good work in you, and He will continue it to completion (Phil. 1:6). But the sharp edge of the chisel clearing away the hindering bulk and debris is not pleasurable. Luke’s gospel gives an intimate view of this reality. Peter’s denial of Jesus is commonly known, but let’s look at the details (Luke 22:31-34). Jesus give’s Peter a heads up; Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat. The adversary was going to shake things up for the disciples (“you” is plural); their lives were going to get rattled. The picture of sifting is like the farmer grinding the wheat enough to remove the chaff from the grain, then turning it with a shovel to let the wind blow the useless chaff away while the weight of the grain keeps it in the pile. The test is one of worthiness – weight. Was Jesus worthy of their confidence and trust or were they trusting in something unworthy of their confidence?
Peter helps us with his reply to Jesus’ warning, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death. Jesus knew that when the moment of trial came, Peter’s confidence would be in his own strength and resolve. He would trust himself, and that is not a worthy object of trust. Peter’s affirmation was his flesh talking. A rut into which we can all easily slide. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:12).
Here is where we see the faithfulness of Christ. I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. This time the “you” is singular. Take this personally – Jesus prays for you. And when He prays, He does so perfectly in the Father’s will. Such requests the Father delights to answer. Jesus was confident that after Peter’s failure from trusting himself, he would return to Christ as the only worthy object of trust. The useless bulk and debris of mere human self-confidence would be chiseled away. The result was the handiwork of God, molding this fisherman turned apostle into the image of Christ, who then manifested a confidence just like Jesus – trusting His Father who is worthy.
God is faithful to do this in each of us. It is most often painful, but productive. We should never forget that the enemy of our souls constantly wants us to question God’s worthiness of our trust. Because your faithful Redeemer/Reconciler intercedes for you, His perfect goodness and strength compels you to flee from idolatry (1 Cor. 10:14). Reject – walk away from – anything that dares to take the place of Christ as your object of trust in the battle.
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