A father and son were traveling down a country road one afternoon in the spring time when suddenly a bee flew in the window. Being deathly allergic to bee stings, the boy began to panic as the bee buzzed all around inside the car. Seeing the horror on his child’s face, the father reached out and caught the bee in his hand. Soon, he opened his hand and the bee began to buzz around once again. Again, the boy began to panic. The father reached over to his son, and opened his hand showing him the stinger still in his palm. “Relax, son,” the father said, “I took the sting. The bee cannot hurt you anymore.”
I love this story because that is exactly what our Heavenly Father did for us through His Son Jesus on the cross.
"’Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?’The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NIV
We recently celebrated this victory during Easter. However, this is the central belief of the Christian faith, the centrality of the Gospel. Without the cross and Jesus willingly taking the penalty of sin and death, we would have no hope in eternal life. Death would indeed have the ultimate victory.
Thank You Jesus for taking the sting by paying the price for my sins on the cross. Help me not to take it for granted and to live a life that is pleasing to You.
Have a great day!