Don’t Listen!

In the story Rosie was tempted to do what she knew was wrong. That was the devil whispering to her, and whenever we hear that voice we must stop listening at once! If you listen to the devil, it will be harder and harder to do what is right.

What sort of things does the devil try to tell us? He wants us to disobey, to hit back, and to pout for our own way. Haven’t you heard him say, “If you pretend you didn’t hear Mom, then you won’t have to obey her”? As soon as we start listening to the devil, the wrong things will sound better and better to us. The devil will persuade us that it is not that bad to take one candy or to read one bad book. Don’t listen!

The devil makes his words sound good and “tempting” to us. When you feel tired the devil will say, “Lie on the couch and let the others do the work.” How do you know that the devil is talking? Think about what Jesus would want you to do. The devil tells us to do things that aren’t right. But God’s way is always good and right, and He will help us to do the right thing if we ask Him.

When a temptation comes you have a choice. You can listen to that “weed thought,” or you can ask Jesus to help you pull it out. Rosie’s temptation started when she began wishing to go to the tower, even though she knew she shouldn’t. When she listened to the devil, he got her to go closer and closer. What if Rosie had asked God to help her be happy and obey when the thought first came? I think she would have more treasures, because when we are willing and obedient, God gives us His best. Look at the promises in God’s Word, like in Psalms 34:8-9.