Ever had a bee sting? Those hurt. A friend of mine — who is very allergic to bee stings — once received 26 stings from wasps all at once. He was rushed to the hospital at once. He made it through, but he face and body was swollen for weeks. It really hurt, as you might imagine.

Our Scripture today is 1 Corinthians 15:55-58. It has to do with something “stinging.” Let’s read it:

⁵⁵“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

• Think on this: How might knowing there’s victory in Jesus change the way you live?

I love how this hope is tied to another promise. Eternal life (death having no power over us) leads us to give away our lives here and now. Verse 58 reminds us that everything we do for God — in our families, towards our friends, loving our enemies, serving the poor, loving others, praying — everything has a purpose. The opposite would be true if this is all there was to life. Live, eat, die. That’s it? NO! Jesus has overcome death, the grave could not hold Him, and we will live and reign with Him forever. That is awesome. It doesn’t sting, but it gives me goose bumps. Are you excited?