Living Stones

“you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

  • Stones. I love collecting them when we travel, I have several from Maine, Utah, Grand Tetons and Michigan. They come in so many shapes and sizes, some are smooth and others have a rough texture. They also come in various colors. Each is unique. Kind of like us! We are “living stones”, each with talents and gifts that God has given us to help build up His kingdom and bring Him glory. 
  • In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul uses our bodies as a way of explaining how each of us, in the body of Christ are important. That no one member can exist with out the other. Yes we are each individual, and we have different gifts and talents. But together we can help build up the body of Christ. We are all useful, we are all needed! It's the same Spirit, but He works uniquely in each of us! So why not celebrate our differences and how we can use them to build up the kingdom of God! 
  • But how are we being “built up in Christ”? What is the evidence? I think about Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Are we growing in these qualities? Is there evidence of them in our lives? 
  • ‭‭And what is an acceptable sacrifice to God? I love this verse from Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” And Hebrews 13:16, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased”.
  • But, we are just stones, “being built up as a spiritual house”. Jesus is the cornerstone; the foundation. As Ephesians 2:21-22 says, “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit”.
  • ‭‭I do like that we are “being built up”, makes it sound like a journey; a process. Not once and done but a daily growing more like Jesus through the gift of His Spirit within us. 
  • So embrace your uniqueness and be that “living stone” God has created you to be:)




 

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