Sifted and Worthy

The sand fell like sugar through the sifter leaving tiny pebbly residue behind as I shook the plastic sandbox toy. As the fine silvery sand dropped free and landed once again into the children’s sandbox I realized the similarity I was seeing to biblical sifting; dividing the wheat and tares, the separating of things to be discarded from things kept.

There are several scriptures that reference being sifted, look at Amos 9:9, “Look, I am giving orders, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one sifts dirt with a screen, but no pebble will fall to the ground.” (CEB) In this passage, God promised to save a remnant as pebbles in a sieve; not the smallest pebble would fall to the ground. Any found worthy by God Almighty would be spared.

The question now is how are we found worthy? We read the answer in Luke’s gospel, 21:36, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (KJV) In the previous verses, Luke is writing Jesus’ warnings, things to watch for in expectation of His return.

Paul tells us in Colossians 1:10 as part of his prayer, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (KJV) To be worthy we as Christians must be fruitful and increase our knowledge of God and His word.

Back to that toy sifter, I pray that I might be found worthy and remain as those little pebbles did, held safe by the One who sifts us.

Sift me, Lord

That I may stay

Ever worthy, day by day.