S) "4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 2:4-5 (NASB)
O) At the most basic level, Peter is reminding us as believers, that we are the church corporately. That is, as believers, we are living stones, as Jesus is a living stone, and He is the chief corner stone (see vv.6-7). Upon that choice stone, we are built up into His spiritual house. That is a beautiful thought, and it never ceases to amaze me, the instant connection I feel when I discover a stranger is a brother. On a deeper level, though, I also wonder if Peter was asserting another point. I cannot escape notice, that it is Peter himself who wrote this passage, and not Paul or James, or any other Christian leader of the first century church. Peter, who is so named because Jesus called him this instead of Simon Barjona, in Matthew 16:18. Peter is a form of the ordinary Greek word for rock. I had always assumed, in reading Matthew's account, that Jesus meant Peter would be the first leader of the church. However, in Peter's own words, he is reminding us that Jesus is the rock on which the church is built, and all of us are living stones. When dissecting the Greek used by Matthew, "Peter" is "Petros" which is just an ordinary stone. But when Jesus said, "upon this rock," that word is "petra" which is a large rock, or bedrock. So, I think Peter is really reminding us that as Christians, we all equally add to the spiritual house. We are all stones alike. None of us are distinctly more important, except Jesus Himself, the corner stone.
A) There are some truly great Christian men and women, doing wonderful work for Christ, in the world today. Some are more recognized than others. Some write about theology exceptionally well, some argue in apologetics deftly. Some are producing media to reach young people, some are planting underground churches. What I must remember is this: none of them, not a single one of them, can do any of it, except that their cornerstone is Christ. That is important to me for two distinct reasons. Firstly, I don't want to idolize anyone. I have wondered sometimes, who will take up the mantle of so-and-so when they pass? Or what does the future of such and such arena look like, if this person is no longer a leader in it? But, that is a shortsighted thought, that forgets all these people are nobodies, if they are not built on Christ. Any servant of His will readily admit that. Secondly, I need to readily admit that. Sometimes, I have moments of wanting to accomplish great things. Most of the time, that is a vague thought that really driven from a combination of my own convictions for laziness, admiration for activists, and a base desire for greatness that is really just exalting myself in my own heart. I am nobody if I am not Christ's. If He is not the rock on which I am built, then I am doomed to sink into the mire. Furthermore, no building is made, by placing a stone atop another stone, and calling it a day. No matter what kind of great thing I do, I am only contributing to, what should be my goal, making God's spiritual house a place of acceptable worship. Peter is a stone. Augustine is a stone. John Calvin is a stone. C.S. Lewis is a stone. Billy Graham is a stone. I am a stone. Jesus Christ is the stone.
P) Father God, let Your name be great. Let Your spiritual house continue to be built, that acceptable sacrifices might be made to You, as spiritual acts of service and worship. You are the master builder. You placed the first stone, the chief cornerstone. He was rejected, only to be used for Your glory, revealed as the foundation of Your house. Let me remember, that I am at once only a small stone in such a large building. At the same time, that You know exactly where I fit in order to glorify You the most. Let that always be my aim, Lord. Be glorified in wherever this stone fits. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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