Madeline’s Visit

Bible Reading: John 14:16-20, 25-28

Maisie set the table for dinner while her mother made a salad. “You know, Mom, I wish I’d been alive two thousand years ago,” said Maisie. “Jesus was living on earth then, and I’d have been able to see Him and talk to Him. But He left us and went back to heaven.”

As she spoke, Maisie’s tablet dinged, letting her know she had a new message. “It’s from Elodie,” she said when she opened it. “Madeline Bowers is going to be in town to give a concert next week! Can I go, Mom? Pleeease? She’s my favorite singer!”

Mom smiled. “Okay,” she said.

“All right!” Maisie grinned at her mother. “I can hardly believe you knew her back in college, and now I’ll get to see her in concert!”

“I heard she was coming here for a concert,” said Mom, “and since it’s been years since we’ve seen each other, I invited her to stay with us while she’s here. Is that okay with you?” Maisie’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at her mother in disbelief. Mom laughed. “Madeline and I used to be good friends, so when I heard she’d be in town, I invited her to spend the weekend with us.”

“Here? In our house? And she said yes? She’s actually going to stay with us?” Maisie danced up and down in delight. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Mom grinned. “I wanted to surprise you.”

Maisie reached out to give her mom a hug. “I can’t wait to tell Elodie!”

“Remember what you said a little while ago, Maisie—that you wished you’d been living when Jesus was on earth?” Mom asked thoughtfully. “I think you forgot something important.”

“What?” Maisie asked.

“Well, seeing Madeline Bowers will be great, but she’ll come and soon be gone again. But that’s not what happened when Jesus left the earth. When He ascended into heaven, He said He’d send us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives not just with us but in us because we’ve trusted in Jesus. Through Him, Jesus is always present with us. That’s even better than having your favorite singer in town for just one weekend.”

-Tanya Ferdinandusz

How About You?

Have you ever wished you’d been alive when Jesus was on earth? It would have been wonderful to see Him heal the sick, make the blind see, and raise the dead. His disciples were sad when He said He was going to leave them, but He promised to send the Holy Spirit to comfort them—and He did! If you know Jesus as your Savior, you have the Holy Spirit living in you too. Through Him, Jesus is always with you.

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Corinthians 6:19 Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

The Holy Spirit lives in Christians