Needed Imprint

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:20-23; Romans 8:14-16; Ephesians 1:13-14

Mateo wiped the back of his hand across his damp forehead. “This is awesome, Selena!” he called to his sister. “We got lots of cans today!” The kids lived in a resort town and collected empty cans and bottles that had been discarded by tourists. They turned them in for money at the local supermarket.

At the store, Mateo and Selena inserted the cans into slots on the can return machine. “Oops! This one’s no good,” said Mateo after checking the top of a can the machine rejected. “It doesn’t have an imprint showing a deposit was made on it. No deposit, no return, so we can’t get money for this one.”

That evening, Mateo and Selena excitedly told their parents about the money they had made by turning in the cans and bottles. “But Mateo tried to sneak one in without the deposit mark on it,” Selena teased, grinning at her brother.

“Did not!” said Mateo. “You probably picked up that one.”

During the pastor’s sermon on Sunday, Mateo nudged Selena when Pastor Cruz said, “You’ve all seen soda cans with an imprint indicating that you can receive money for turning them in. A couple days ago, I tried to turn in a can that didn’t have that imprint, and the machine spit it back out.”

After a bit of laughter, Pastor Cruz continued. “In a way, God’s Holy Spirit is like an imprint on our lives. He doesn’t leave a physical mark that can be seen, but He lives within our hearts and leads us day by day.

“Some people think going to church and being good will get them to heaven. Or that being born to Christian parents is all that’s necessary. But unless a person has received God’s imprint—His Holy Spirit—by trusting in Jesus, they’ll be rejected, just like those unmarked pop cans. They’ll hear the sad words, ‘I never knew you.’” Pastor Cruz looked around the room. “I urge you to put your trust in Jesus today,” he said. “Then you’ll receive the Holy Spirit, who marks us as God’s children. He’s like a deposit showing that our sins have been paid for by Jesus and that we belong to Him.”

-Gail D. Brown

How About You?

Do you have God’s imprint—His Holy Spirit? Examine your heart and life carefully. Do you believe Jesus died in your place, taking the punishment for all the wrong things you’ve done? Have you asked Him to forgive you? If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is living inside you. If you haven’t, trust Jesus today and receive the Holy Spirit. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column.)

Today’s Key Verse: Romans 8:14 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

You need God’s Holy Spirit