Bible Reading: Proverbs 2:1-9; John 14:26

"How did you like our game today, Dad?" asked August when he and Ryker got in the car after their baseball game.

"It was great!" said Dad. "Do you mind if I use you guys for an example in my Sunday school class tomorrow? Our lesson is about our Christian walk with Jesus, and you gave me some good examples. Can you boys figure out what they are?"

Ryker and August looked at each other and shrugged. "Umm…because we were on the winning team?" August guessed.

"Good thought!" said Dad. "With Jesus, you're on the winning team too. He defeated sin and death when He died on the cross and rose again. But I had some other things in mind. One of them was something Ryker did."

Ryker grinned. "Something good, I hope?"

"Yes, something good. I noticed that while you were waiting for your turn at bat in the sixth inning, some boys in the bleachers were calling out to you just as your coach came up to say something."

"Yeah. Those guys are on my soccer team at school, and they wanted me to come over to the fence and talk to them," Ryker explained.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't let them distract you and miss what your coach wanted to tell you," said Dad. "It's important to listen to him."

"Right," said Ryker. "Coach Tim always tells us that too. But why did that remind you of Christians? I don't get it."

"That's the way we need to listen to God," Dad explained. "He talks to us through His Word, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit helps us understand what it says and how we should apply it to our lives. Sometimes we don't pay attention to Him because we're so busy doing our own thing. Other times we might be distracted by what other people are saying or wanting us to do."

"So if we're so easily distracted, how can we be sure to listen to Him?" asked August.

"I think I know!" said Ryker. "By taking time to read the Bible and pray?"

Dad nodded. "That's one way to listen to God's voice. He also speaks to us through His church--His body of believers. As we worship and learn about God together and share our struggles with one another, the Holy Spirit speaks to us and guides us in His truth and love."

–Carolyn Gaston