As Living Stones

1 Peter 2: 4 – 5

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, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

I was picturing a person walking along a riverbed picking up and rejecting rocks, looking for the perfect one to keep. The stone we would throw away is precious in the sight of God.

The way to think about this verse is two-fold. It speaks of Jesus, the one rejected by men but precious and choice by God. The beautiful Son of God was rejected by the establishment. The cool kids didn’t want to have anything to do with him. His own brothers made fun of him. To many, most in fact, he did not look like the pretty, collectible stone. He was the one tossed aside.

We also see ourselves in this verse. Jesus is not the only precious to God stone to be rejected. The feeling of rejection is widespread. Books and books have been written to help people overcome rejection. It is a problem, but the number one thing for each of us to understand is that despite rejection by people, each of us is a precious gem in God’s sight. I think that makes a difference. That is not to say it won’t still hurt a little when people reject us but what a refuge we have in God. We can run to Him with our hurt feelings and be welcomed and valued. It does take the sting out of the rejection by people.

Lastly, the cornerstone, Jesus, and we, the living stones, are being fitted together as a living temple, a spiritual household of faith. In other words, we are the brick and mortar of the Kingdom. We are being shaped and assembled, together, as a living edifice of glory and honor to the Father. We are not all the same and perhaps the Lord is having to round off some of our rougher edges. None the less, we are each chosen and precious. We have been selected to be a part of the monument of praise to the Lord even though we are different from one another. You are chosen because of your uniqueness, not in spite of it.

This is why unity among us is so important. Despite our differences, we must hold together. If we reject one another, we tear the building apart. So, today, though this is not where I thought this Word of the Day would go, I want to officially recognize each one of you as accepted and valued. And I pray that I can see each and every one of you with the eyes of God; that I see your glory and beauty even if you still see your blemishes. In these most troubling of times, I want you to know this ministry and myself personally and as a pastor welcomes you and gives you refuge from what may feel like a cold and angry world. As our Lord said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11: 28).