The little boy has misbehaved at school and had to write, “I am a bad boy” five hundred times. “I got even with the teacher, though,” he said. “When I got home I wrote, ‘No I ain’t’ five hundred and one times!”

The little boy understood something. Words do matter, and good words matter even more. Our lives need to be spent in seeking the good of all, and our words will often make the difference. Solomon said, “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Proverbs 15:23). What we say to others makes a difference!

Solomon also said, “He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him” (Proverbs 11:27). In words and deeds, we most often find what we are looking for. If we are looking for evil, we will find it. If we are looking for good, we will find it.

Satan looks at us, and says we are worthless. As he came among the sons of God, Satan said of Job, “Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face” (Job 1:9-11). Even Job, who God described as “a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” (Job 1:8), is supposedly only faithful because of all the blessings he has received.

Even after the loss of his children and all of his material possessions, Satan still says of Job, “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face” (Job 2:4-5). Satan, the accuser, still says that we are worthless.

In contrast, consider the words of God through John the apostle: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). Because of His love, God sent Christ to die for us.

When Satan says I am so bad that I am not worth saving, God says, “No he ain’t!”

"No I Ain't!"

by Bob Prichard

www.oxfordchurchofchrist.com