Sting

My youngest child went outside with his sister to feed the animals on our front porch on a June Wednesday evening.  We were all getting ready for bed when I heard him crying.  She came in first saying that he was stung by a bee.  As he came inside crying, he was holding his hand saying that a bee stung him.  I asked him how he knew that it was a bee sting.  He said, “Uhhh!  Daddy, I saw the bee and wanted to pet it!” 

Fast forward about twenty-four hours to Thursday evening while we are at our girl’s fast-pitch softball game.  She is up to bat and I have my camera on the sports feature taking multiple pictures trying to capture her big hit.  As I leaned against the fence to steady the camera, I zoomed in on her batting.  I opened both eyes to see when the pitcher was going to unleash the ball.  In my peripheral vision I saw wasps lurking overhead and I sensed imminent danger.  As I put the camera down and backed away from the fence, one of the wasps went on the attack and nailed me on the top-left side of my head.  Ouchy!  The experience of the sting hurt worse than hearing about it from my son the night before.   

The next morning I woke up and the top of my head was still a little sore.  There was also a newly formed knot on the back of my neck causing me pain every time I turned my head.  My neck continued to hurt for a week.  One “sting” caused lasting effects on me and my life for a week.  However, some people have an allergic reaction to a sting causing much more severe side effects that must be medically treated.  There is even a great potential for death if not cared for quickly.  Wow!  Just from one “sting!”

Did you know there are two other stings that this world brings our way that are far worse than any sting given by a wasp or a bee?  Neither of these kinds of stings is good and both are very, very dangerous.  However, a cure for these two stings has been provided!

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”  For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Is there a “sting” (sin) in your life that is going unconfessed to the Lord?  Are you living your life in denial that you have been stung by the sin bee?  The Bible says there is victory over that “sting.”  Talk with the sting healer and the life giver today.  Ask God for forgiveness.  Accept the victory that he gives to you from the “stings” that are currently causing ill effects in your life today.  Imminent danger lurks, but we have victory through Jesus Christ!

Remember, God has a purpose and a plan for your life.  The sting of sin, however, wants to lead you away from that greater purpose.  Don't let the sting of sin have control of your day today.  Live out your day with #BalancedLiving for God so that you can be a #WorldChanger and #KingdomBuilder for His glory!

  

In Christ Alone and continuing in prayer,

Chad Hensley (Senior Pastor, Henderson General Baptist Church)

www.HendersonGeneralBaptistChurch.org

www.facebook.com/hgbchurch

www.PastorChadH.blogspot.com