Simon

Sometimes, God has to get our attention.

In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” It sounds simple: We hear Jesus, then we do what He says. But it’s rarely that easy. With so much noise surrounding us, it can be hard to hear the God who made us.

Throughout scripture, we see God use a specific strategy to cut through the noise: He calls a person’s name twice. In Luke 22, we find Jesus at the Last Supper. He’s about to be arrested, and He needs Simon Peter’s full attention for a pivotal moment.

When you read the scripture, notice that Jesus calls him Simon, not Peter.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus called him Peter, the Rock. So why, at this critical moment, does He revert to "Simon, Simon"?

Simon is who he was; Peter is who Jesus called him to be. It’s as if Jesus is saying, "I see who you were, and I see who you’re going to become. But tomorrow, you’re going to be in a 'Simon' state of mind. You’re going to deny me and let me down. But even then, I still see Peter, because that’s the name I gave you."

You might feel like both today. You know who God called you to be, but those old mindsets are creeping back in. The "old you" is still tripping you up. But here’s the truth: Simon was only singled out to be sifted because he was singled out to be significant.

Jesus warns him: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you.” Sifting is a process of separation. The word used here for "sift" refers to a shaking so violent that it’s only used once in the entire Bible. It’s a shaking designed to remove what shouldn’t be there so that what remains can produce what God intended.

Have you ever felt like your faith was being shaken? That’s the sifting. In these seasons, your motives are exposed, dependencies are revealed, and things that used to work suddenly don’t. You might wonder, "Is this the end?" But Jesus knew that the man being sifted at the table would soon be the man standing to preach at Pentecost. This isn’t your end; it’s your shift.

Jesus follows the warning with a promise: “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.” This isn't a fight between your strength and the enemy’s attack; it’s a fight between the enemy’s attack and your Savior’s prayer. This is the prayer that calls you back to your right mind. It’s the prayer that reminds you that God already knew the mistakes you’d make, and He called you anyway.

If you feel the pressure today, remember: God isn't calling you because you're perfect; He's calling you because you’re His.

This devotional is based on the sermon series CALLED. You can watch the full series on the Elevation Church YouTube channel.