Stung By A Bee

Stung By A Bee!
Have you ever been stung by a bee? Did it hurt? Of course it did! Most people avoid bees just so they won't get stung.
One summer afternoon a young boy was playing outside the door of his home.His mother was nearby in the kitchen.
Suddenly a bee came buzzing around the boy's head,frightening him.He tried to scare it away by waving his hand,but he only made it angry.Back it came again and again,closer each time.
In fear he ran to his mother,who had been watching him.With motherly love she wrapped her arms around him,protecting him.
She had hardly done this when the angry bee stung her.She felt the pain,but she also knew that her son would not be hurt.She told him,"You are safe now; the bee cannot hurt you.It's stinger is in my arm.It can only sting once."

Sting Of Sin
This is a wonderful picture of what Jesus has done for us.Because of our sins,we deserve to be punished by God.But Jesus willingly suffered and died for our sins on a cross: "But he was pierced for our rebellion,crushed for our sins.He was beaten so we could be whole.He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us,like sheep,have strayed away.We have left God's paths to follow our own.Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." -Isaiah 53:5-6.
He was our substitute.God punished Him for our sins instead of us: "Christ himself suffered for you . . .
Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross . . ." -1 Peter 2:21,24.Christ himself suffered for sins once.He was not guilty,but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God." -1 Peter 3:18.

Only One Sting
To be saved from the deadly sting of sin,we must accept Jesus as our substitute.We do this by confessing our sins to God.He will forgive us for Jesus' sake.The sting of God's punishment was taken by Jesus,and God will not punish twice for our sins.Isn't that wonderful?
"I tell you the truth,whoever hears what I say and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life.That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life." -John 5:24.

Will You Accept
All you need to do is admit that you are a sinner and believe that Jesus died for your sins.God will forgive you for Jesus' sake,and you will not be punished.He is waiting for you to run to Him like the boy in our story ran to his mother.Will you do it today?