No Laughing Matter
NO LAUGHING MATTER
Read John 12:37-43.
Tim scuffed the toe of his shoe in the playground dirt. He didn’t think the words some of the boys were saying were funny. He knew the words did not honor God. But he was afraid the other boys wouldn’t let him play with them anymore if he walked away. So Tim stood in the small circle of boys, laughing at the words.
That night, as usual, Tim read his Bible before going to bed. He read from John 12, “They loved human praise more than the praise of God.” Tim understood then that he had wanted praise from the other boys on the playground more than praise from God. He whispered, “Dear God, I’m sorry for laughing at words and jokes I knew were wrong. Help me to walk away the next time others are talking like that.”
A few days later the same boys stood together in a corner of the playground. The tallest boy began to use bad language. Everyone laughed—except Tim. He turned and began to walk away. “What’s the matter, Tim?” someone jeered.
Tim continued to walk away. He heard footsteps behind him, turned, and saw Roberto walking along with him. “I don’t like that kind of language either,” said Roberto.
“Do you collect baseball cards?” asked Tim.
“I sure do,” answered Roberto, pulling some out of his pocket. That was just the beginning of a new friendship. Tim found that he was much happier than when he was trying to make the other boys like him. He learned that when he pleased God, he also pleased himself.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you care more about what the kids at school will say than about what God will say? Make sure that the words of today’s verse can never be said about you!
TO MEMORIZE:
They loved human praise more than the praise of God.
John 12:43
SEEK GOD’S PRAISE.
From the book
