if Peter was going to be a rock on which the church could be built, a bearer of news about Jesus, and one who would grow and strengthen others in following Jesus, then he needed sifting so that in future years of service and responsibility, his faith would not fail. So Jesus allowed Satan to ‘sift’ him, to expose his weaknesses and failures and purify his trust in Jesus rather than himself. Perhaps you too might need to be sifted for the same reason. If so, may you enter the time of ‘sifting’ even through great failure, assured of Jesus’ words, “I have prayed for you”.

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