One day when Mother and I were walking the fields on the farm, we came upon one section of the rail fence that was down. We knew that the cattle would get out, so it needed to be fixed.

I said to Mother, "I can't fix the fence; I hear the hum of hornets. I am allergic to the stings of hornets and bees." Mother said, "I'm not allergic; I will fix the fence." No reasoning would change Mother's mind.

Mother was stung four times by yellow jackets on her legs during the work of repairing the fence. It broke my heart to see Mother suffering while I could not help. When we got back to the house, we put soda paste on the stings to help soothe the pain and draw out the venom.

1 Corinthians 15:54b-57 – Death has been swallowed up in victory. 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. (NIV)

God knew the exact moment when His Son would die on Calvary for our sin. The sting of death was foreign to God. But His Son, Jesus, took on flesh to experience the sting of death for mankind. Our sin was put on Jesus on the cross. The Father had to turn His back on Christ until He was able to cry, "It is finished."

1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (NIV)

We have listened to the news these past months and heard the numbers of people dying with COVID-19 worldwide. Our hearts ache for loved ones left behind. We see the tragic explosion that happened in Lebanon and are saddened for the innocent. We need to ask ourselves, "Do I fear the sting of death? What stings in my life are taking away my joy or peace of mind and soul?"

Mother's legs healed without scars. But Jesus Christ carries the scars of the cross where He willingly took on Himself the sting of sin and death for us. Our faith and trust need to be in Jesus Christ. We are called to show love, kindness and peace to those with whom we come in contact on a daily basis.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep us mindful of the price that Your Son paid for our forgiveness at Calvary. Help us to love each other for Your sake. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Ruth Rowe <ruthjohn.rowe@gmail.com>
Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada
Send your feedback to the author