MAY 11, 2023 – LIVING STONES

READ: Eph. 2:17-22

Coming to Him as to a living stone … you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood … – 1 Pet. 2:4,5

The image shifts to the functioning of a building. However, it is still about living in communion with Christ, which is necessary for a living faith that is active through love. This communion is evident in the call: “and coming to Him.” You must entrust and surrender yourself to Him, take refuge in His blood as a sinner, listen to Him, and follow Him.

He is the living stone on which the entire church rests, the entire work of redemption, and the future salvation. He is alive and gives true life to all who believe in Him (John 14:6).

The people, especially the Jews, rejected Him, and many still do today. But God chose Him and valued Him. This is how God called Him from heaven when He was on earth. After His ascension, God gave Him the name above all names, and He now sits at God’s right hand.

It is a marvelous image. When we have communion with the living Christ, we also become living stones that are built together into a spiritual house. This is a house where a spiritual community reigns with Christ, with God, and with one another. This community is also living: a holy priesthood, a community of priests.

The purpose is to serve and honor God in a way that is pleasing to Him. Through spiritual sacrifices, we give ourselves completely to the Lord with everything we receive from Him. This goal can only be achieved if our service to the Lord is worked through Jesus Christ and is sanctified by Him through His covering of our sins.

Singing: Ps. 122:1                       How do you give form to your priesthood?