We Have a Receipt

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 5:4-5; Ephesians 1:13-14

Bella followed Jason, her older brother, toward the store’s double doors when an alarm beeping overhead caused them to startle and whirl.

A husky man wearing a manager badge strode over and demanded to see their purchases. Bella stepped behind Jason, out of the view of several curious customers staring in their direction. She desperately hoped no one she knew was watching.

Bella glanced at Jason’s unruffled composure. He calmly retrieved a slip of paper from the bag and handed it over.

“Ah,” the manager said, “We forgot to remove a tag. Come this way.”

The man removed the offending security tags and handed their purchases back to them. “Sorry about that,” he said with a smile. “You’re all set.”

Bella slunk out of the store and into the passenger seat of Jason’s old beater. “That was embarrassing! What if someone thought we were thieves?”

Jason shrugged. “Who cares? Thinking something doesn’t make it true. We had a receipt.”

Bella rolled her eyes. Brothers. You just don’t get it.

At youth group the next day, Bella pulled Charlotte aside. Charlotte was a loyal friend—she would understand. Bella relayed the whole mortifying incident. “Isn’t that completely embarrassing?” she bemoaned.

Charlotte nodded sympathetically but didn’t respond the way Bella was expecting. “No matter what anyone might have imagined, your receipt proved you guys really did make that purchase. That’s like what Pastor Thomas talked about last week.”

“What did he say last week?” asked Bella.

“Oh, that’s right, you were sick,” said Charlotte. “You know how after Jesus’ resurrection, God sent the Holy Spirit to live inside His followers? Pastor Thomas said the Holy Spirit is like our receipt—you know, for Jesus purchasing our salvation on the cross. So when anyone tries to make us feel ashamed for things we’ve already been forgiven for, we have the “receipt” to prove God’s already forgiven us and that we belong to Him. We don’t have to listen to anything—even our own thoughts—if they don’t line up with the truth of what God’s done for us.”

“Oh. Wow,” was all Bella could say.

Charlotte grinned. “Right? God loves you so much He gave you a receipt no one can lose or take away—the Holy Spirit!” • Pearl Allard

How About You?

Do others make you feel ashamed for things you’ve done in the past? Do you feel guilty over sins you’ve already confessed? If you belong to Jesus, He has not only forgiven you, He’s given you the Holy Spirit as a guarantee your salvation has been purchased forever. Don’t listen to others or even your own thoughts if they tell you you’re not forgiven. Like a receipt, the Holy Spirit proves you are a forgiven child of God.

Today’s Key Verse:
Ephesians 1:13 When you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

Today’s Key Thought:

The Holy Spirit is our receipt