Building Your Life

1 Peter 2:4-8 As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men 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 capstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.
 
THE Bible has very many ways to encourage us to live a holy life as we prepare for Heaven. Peter shares one here with images from Isaiah of Jesus as living Stone, cornerstone and capstone.
   To begin, Peter uses Isaiah’s prophecy in verse 6 to teach us God is building his church on Jesus Christ, the living Stone, chosen and rejected in Zion – in Jerusalem. As we consider Jesus’ enormous suffering, we must consider even more that the Father chose him and loves him. Jesus, rejected by men is precious to the Father.
   The good news – the gospel message – is that you who believe in Jesus are also living stones just as precious to the Father. The church is built into a spiritual house alive with the Spirit of the living Stone. We are to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
   This is your purpose. A Christian represents God on earth as Jesus, our high Priest, did. As Jesus intercedes for us, we mut intercede in prayer for others in the church and for the world. A royal priest in Jesus’ name is humble to strive, to serve and to sacrifice toward a holy life for God’s glory. God uses believers to build his church so the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)
   In contrast, the unbelievers stumble and fall over Jesus’ truth. Peter labels all unbelievers as misguided builders. The try to build lives with unholy ideas. Instead of building with Jesus as the capstone of their lives, they reject and stumble over his authority. He will reign at the crown of creation. And all deceived will stumble to destruction.
          Peter had learned to live faithfully with the living Stone. He watched Jerusalem reject the Capstone. Peter also knows the Cornerstone is alive and anchors his life. In response, Peter is a living stone, a royal priest for the LORD God, interceding for the church. This is to be your life, too.