1 Peter 2:4-10

LIVING STONES

"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." (5)

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. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

     1. Jesus is the Living Stone, the cornerstone of God’s house, the church. We once lived empty lives, separated from God, but now, as we come to him, we are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Each of us are living stones, built upon Jesus, the precious cornerstone, who was rejected by man but chosen by God. For those who reject Christ, they will stumble and fall, but those who trust in him, they will never be put to shame.

     2. In Exodus 19:4-6, God reminded His people of what He did for them in Egypt and His purpose to make them a royal priesthood and a holy nation. A priest stands in the gap between man and God to make an intercession for them. To be holy means to be set apart. Because of Christ’s blood, we are no longer in darkness but have a new life with a new identity and purpose before God. We belong to Him. May we not mold to the world but live firmly as living stones as a holy royal priesthood.

Prayer: Father, thank you so much for calling me out of darkness and an empty life to have purpose in you. Please allow me to live for you. May our prayers help others to see Christ as the precious cornerstone.

One Word: A holy and royal priesthood