Baggage Claim — Dirty Clothes - Wednesday
Today’s Verse
Revelation 12:10b
…for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (ESV)
“C’mon! Are you kidding me? What are you thinking?!”
I didn’t know the kid. I didn’t know the man who was yelling.
I was just a guy minding his own business, trying to watch a little league basketball game. I hadn’t come there to talk to anyone. I hadn’t come to engage. I came to drink my Diet Coke in silence.
Why did that have to be so hard?
“Take him out, Coach! He’s soft!” Soft, huh? Interesting comment coming from a guy with a massive beer belly.
Not wanting anyone to think I was with this jerk, I slid down my row of bleachers, doing my best to ignore him. His voice echoed through the gym, laced with profanity. Every time this poor kid touched the ball, he peppered him with criticism.
“Drive to the basket!” he coached as the boy frantically obeyed, getting his shot blocked by an opposing player.
“NOOO!” the man exploded. “Why would you do that?!”
I’d had enough…
“Because YOU just TOLD him to!!” I snapped, scolding the man much louder than I’d expected. “Maybe if you’d keep your mouth shut, he’d make one!”
The man looked at me stunned, twice my age and startled by my tone. He locked eyes with me for what felt like an eternity, neither of us quite sure how to proceed. After a brief staredown, we both awkwardly turned and watched the rest of the game in silence.
Some of you may read this and think that I did the right thing, but I didn’t. This story is no example of how to respond to obnoxious people, nor is it an example of how to respond in general!
But it is an example of what Satan has done to me: ruthlessly critiqued me, embarrassed me in front of everyone, then shamed me for doing whatever it was he told me to do in the first place.
Revelation describes our enemy as “the accuser”. He’s the guy in the stands, leading us in the wrong direction, then turning on us when it doesn’t work, saying, “How could you be so stupid?”
But regardless of the horrible things Satan has screamed at us, today’s verse reminds us that one day, because of what Jesus has done on our behalf, our accuser’s voice will be silenced forever.
So, when Satan tries to shame you into feeling like a loser, remember—Jesus has already won. And if you belong to Jesus, you’ve already won, too.
REFLECTION
How can you silence the enemy’s voice today?
