Reading: Luke 22:47-53

This piece of verse 53 is impressive to me:

“But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

One impression: There is an appointed time for everything.

Another impression: Jesus’ real enemy was not any human but Satan, the power of darkness. (If I see people as my enemies, I’ll be fighting the wrong battles and will be very vulnerable to my real enemy.)

Last impression: Their time had finally come…and it overlapped with that of Satan. Oh wow! Sometimes we wait for our “chance” — when it comes, let’s don’t allow our use of it to overlap with Satan’s use of it.

Do you know what I mean with that last impression? Just in case, I’ll restate it this way: Don’t help the Devil accomplish his purposes!

from Luke 22:51

A little bit more from Luke 22: Please. Not I!

Reading: Luke 22:31-46

Jesus told Peter, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (31).

I don’t know what all that means. But I do know it doesn’t mean anything good.

As I read that, the thought impressed itself into my heart that Satan desires to have and sift my family (me included).

I was challenged and encouraged and comforted by what Jesus told Peter next:

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (32).

As I shake under the devil’s sifting efforts, sometimes it seems like I can barely hang on any longer. I’m so glad for God’s reminder of Jesus’ work for me. I know verse 32 is Jesus speaking to Peter, but other New Testament verses make similar promises for me.

Mine! I claim them for me!

That said, something else really strikes me from these two verses: I must pray for my family, that their faith fail not. Satan is attacking and will continue attacking them.

In my own sifting and struggling and hurting, I remain the husband and father in this family. I cannot be careless or forgetful in resisting the devil and his work against them.

But I must hang to verses 32 and 43.

from Luke 22:46

A little bit more from Luke 22: Ministering Spirit