Scripture
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – Emphasis added
Reflection
This is a fantastic description of the community of faith called a church. “Living stones, a spiritual house and a holy priesthood”. During my university years I spent part of a summer working for a mason (a person who builds things with cement blocks, bricks, cement and sometimes stones) This particular mason’s expertise was in building with stones. Not “pre-cut” stones or stones manufactured in a factory but natural stones found in river beds and buried in the ground. As I watched him build with natural stones I noticed the effort he would take to keep the stones’ natural beauty, not to destroy the stone but to use the stone. It also took a lot of work to fit all of the stones together, different shapes, sizes and weight, to form something that no individual stone could achieve. He was such a master at his craft that no stone had to be rejected, in his hands he could do something with any stone which was brought to him. Can you see why we are called living stones? (Ps. Dale).
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell us about God, Jesus and people?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- What is one way you can apply this truth to your life today?
- Who can you encourage with this story/message?
Prayer
Be still and wait patiently for God (Psalm 37:7).
