530. Who Has The Final Say?

“God showed me another instance of His word in action yesterday,” Stan began.

“What was going on?” I replied.

“I was out in the front yard,” Stan said, “and I heard two neighborhood boys talking.  They are probably about eight or nine years old.”

“It seems that they are both involved in the city’s youth soccer program, but on different teams.”

Continuing, Stan said, “I heard the first boy proudly say to the other boy that his coach had told his team that they were the best in the league.”

“Sounds like the normal sort of encouragement,” I replied.

“It does,” Stan said, “but the second boy’s response was classic.  He said something like, ‘Well, your coach hasn’t seen me play!’”

Continuing, he added, “The second boy’s response made me smile.  And it brought to mind something the apostle John wrote near the end of his first letter, as well as what Jesus had to say about the same thing.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“The apostle John wrote about the whole world being in the power of Satan, the evil one,” Stan replied.

“You think that’s true?” I asked.

“I do,” Stan replied, “but I also know what the same apostle recorded  what Jesus had to say about that.”

“What?”

“That I am to take courage,” Stan said, “in the fact that Jesus has overcome the world.”

Continuing, he added, “It’s kind of like Jesus saying, ‘Don’t be too confident in what Satan has to say because he hasn’t seen what I can do!’”

“Yeah,” I responded, “it’s all about knowing who and what to listen to, as well as who and what to believe.”

“Exactly, my friend,” Stan concluded.  “Listen to the One who has the final say!”

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We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.  1 John 5:19.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.  John 16:33.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, that you gave your Son so that all who believe in Him can look forward to life eternally with you when it is time.  Thank you for those who brought me to that truth.  Thank you, too, that in Him, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, I have all I need to not get pulled down by the lies of the evil one.  You know how much help I need in not listening to the voice of Satan.  Please, Father, help me in following your lead in receiving and embracing all you have for me to truly take courage in not being a part of his world, but to listen only to You, the One with the final say in all things.  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

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Things to think (and journal) about:  What does it look like for you to ignore the voice of the world, the flesh, and the devil in order to truly listen to the voice of the One who has the final say in everything?

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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.