by Richelle Hecker

No longer suffering the sting of death.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Some fears are rational and some are certainly without merit. I’m not sure which category jellyfish fit into for me. For years I’ve had a fear of being stung by a jellyfish but I’ve never lived near an ocean. My ignorance about jellyfish is the biggest cause of my fear. I may not live near an ocean but I have swum in them occasionally. Since I do not know where jellyfish actually live, I’m never quite sure if there might be one around me.

Jellyfish are a strange kind of animal. They do not have eyes, noses, ears, brains, nor hearts. Yet they are still considered part of the animal kingdom: they are invertebrates, not fish. My fear of being attacked by a jellyfish is actually a fear of accidentally stumbling into one since they do not actively pursue prey. They just drift along ocean currents and sting whatever comes near them in hopes of killing and eating it. Their power is in their sting.

There is something else we tend to fear that has many of the same characteristics as a jellyfish sting. It strikes people without regard to age, stature, or heredity. It does not care where anyone comes from, where anyone is going, or whether they were doing good or bad. Often times it seems to hit randomly with no reason at all.  It is the sting of death.

Thankfully we do not need to fear death. Christ conquered it for us in His death and resurrection.

 ^“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “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.”
1 Corinthians 15: 54-57 New International Version

Now we can focus on living without fear of the life He has given us. Because He lives, we too will live. He is risen indeed, Hallelujah!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado