But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
Acts 1-2
Did you and your best friend ever make friendship bracelets as kids? The bracelets are a way of connecting you to each other even when you are not together. When you begin to miss your friend or need a reminder of him or her, you simply look down at your wrist to see the bracelet that serves as a symbol of your friendship.
Jesus gave us the ultimate friendship bracelet when He returned to heaven: the Holy Spirit. In the days after His resurrection, He spent time with His closest friends and followers, encouraging them and preparing them for the upcoming day when He would have to leave them behind on Earth in order to return to God the Father. But He did not stop guiding or encouraging them when He returned to Heaven. He sent His Holy Spirit to be with them on Earth and serve as a continuous reminder of His presence in their lives.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit enters our hearts and guides us throughout our day. He comforts us, guides us, strengthens us and empowers us to do what is right and share His love with those around us. When we are afraid or begin to worry, all we have to do is look to the Holy Spirit – a symbol of our friendship with Jesus and His continuous involvement in our day-to-day lives.
Jesus never truly left us when He left Earth. In fact, He gave us more than we could ever need to love, serve and grow closer to Him even while we are separated physically. The Holy Spirit is God’s way of reminding us that He is always with us, even when we feel alone.
Questions to think about:
- Why did Jesus leave us with the Holy Spirit?
- Do you ever feel far from God?
- When have you felt the Holy Spirit guide or comfort you when you feel alone?