Living Stone

Living Stone

1 Peter 2: ⁴ Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. ⁵ Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For the scripture says,

“I chose a valuable stone,
    which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion;
    and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed.”
⁷ This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe:
“The stone which the builders rejected as worthless
    turned out to be the most important of all.”
⁸ And another scripture says,
“This is the stone that will make people stumble,
    the rock that will make them fall.” 

They stumbled because they did not believe in the word; such was God's will for them.

 

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Knowing there was something wrong with the decision, I felt kind of nervous. A friend of mine found a way to get some groceries without using his money. I thought it was not right, but volunteered to drive him to the store and threw in my list of items. On the way home, my car broke down. Coincidentally, the cost of the repair was almost half the amount we spent on groceries.

 

• I rejected the warning thought and went with the bad decision.
• I thought that I could participate in something partially and not be guilty.
• I could have said “No” and walked away from the bad decision.

 

Peter invites everyone to give their lives to JESUS. He mentions that JESUS was overlooked as the one and only solution to all problems. The world has a better way than JESUS so therefore they reject HIM as valuable. BUT GOD has chosen HIM as the most valuable.

 

My Observations:

• GOD is more pleased when I ask HIM, “What would YOU like me to do?”
• When I make decisions that do not include GOD, I tend to stumble and fall.
• JESUS is the cornerstone of my faith and I can build HIS kingdom without ever being disappointed.

 

Disappointment, blame and fear develop when I leave GOD out of my decisions. I mean, there is a way that seems right to me, but I end up falling down and hurting myself. GOD gives me a decision, I can be a stone for HIM or fall on the stone, which is JESUS.

 

Being a stone means, life’s challenges will not move me from believing in HIS power. It also means I totally rely on HIM to resolve my problems HIS way and in HIS time. HE then makes me a holy servant simply because of my belief in HIM. I am glad JESUS stands firm for me.

 

Challenge

• What rejection does the writer mention?
• Have you ever thought that some things that GOD wants are worthless?
• Will you become a living stone for JESUS today and live by HIS example today?

Quality or Kindling

Quality or Kindling

1 Corinthians 3: You are also God's building. ¹⁰ Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder and laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each of you must be careful how you build. ¹¹ For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid. ¹² Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. ¹³ And the quality of each person's work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone's work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. ¹⁴ If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.

 

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Hearing a polished orator made me feel insignificant. I would hear about their audiences of millions of people and look at my numbers only to hold my head down in shame. I panicked and tried to be like famous people as quickly as I could. I went away from quality and started putting out irrelevant information. The few who I spoke to soon left.

 

• There were many times when I wanted to be seen and heard.
• There were many times when I served people so “I” could get noticed.
• There were many times when I got involved so I could be with the crowd that looked good.

 

Paul uses a different analogy. He switched from plants in a field to that of a building. JESUS CHRIST is the one and only foundation to build anything, Paul explains. Some people use money and others use security or health, but those who truly follow GOD need the right foundation.

 

• GOD wants me to continually question my motives to see if I am speaking about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to know I am susceptible to seeking selfish motives, so I should be careful how I build.
• GOD wants me to seek sincerity when I serve otherwise HE will burn up my work.

 

“Did you see me give?” is a question that could point to a work that may be burned up by GOD. I mean, HE said “Give in secret.” HE also gave guidelines for prayer and fasting. HE just wants me to be sincere when serving HIM. Unfortunately, sin gets in the way and there are times when my motive is not aligned with HIS.

 

GOD forgives me and can tell the difference of when I am being sincere and when my motive is false. I am grateful HE forgives my false motive and loves me enough to serve HIM in Spirit and truth.

 

• Are you trying to impress people to get a large following?
• Do you want to look good in front of people and are not concerned how you look in front of GOD?
• Will you ask GOD to help you sincerely serve HIM and do what HE wants, especially when no one is looking?

Hostile Takeover

Mark 12: Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. ² Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. ³ And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. ⁵ And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. ⁶ Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ⁷ But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

⁹ “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you not even read this Scripture:

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.

¹¹ This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

¹² And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

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Seeing a crowded bus, I noticed a group of people who hung around the back door waiting for people to exit so they could slip on. A free ride was the goal. Wow! I thought to myself. I shimmied onto the bus and it worked. I tried it on the next bus and the driver stopped the bus and made me come to the front and pay. That cured my bus hopping in a single trip.

• There were times when I tried to force my way in.
• There were timed when I tried to sneak my way in.
• Three were times when I tried to get in places I did not belong.

The church leaders thought they had exclusive rights to heaven. They lorded their positions to the point of hating JESUS for exposing their sinfulness. This parable solidified their hatred as JESUS said they would kill HIM.

• JESUS wants me to confess my sins or HE will one day point them out.
• JESUS wants me to tell people my sins so the sin will lose its power over me.
• JESUS wants me to focus on HIS love instead of hating HIS methods.

GOD’s love requires that I believe in HIS SON. I can become a church leader and still rot in a place of eternal separation fro GOD if I do not truly believe in HIS SON. JESUS is the focus of the parable. HE was sent for my salvation.

• Are you trying to force your way into heaven?
• Do you think you goodness deserves a heavenly seat?
• Can you stop thinking you are good enough for heaven because of your title and start believing in JESUS?

Reject Maker

Matthew 21: ⁴² Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

⁴³ “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. ⁴⁴ Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

⁴⁵ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. ⁴⁶ They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

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Humiliation turned into relief as I was finally picked to play the game on the playground. I was frail but fast. I caught people quickly and soon was recognized as a key player. The next time we played I was actually consulted. “Should we pick ‘that’ person?” they asked. “‘Nah’ let’s get some fast people” I suggested.

• There were times I rejected people.
• There were times I wanted to be on the winning side.
• There were times I my desire to win was placed over my desire to accept.

Instead of bringing others along in the game, I joined in the exclusion. To this day, I do not know who I overlooked because of my short-sightedness. JESUS knows. HE feels those who have been rejected and knows those who have done the rejection.

• GOD made each person special so I should not reject them.
• GOD made each person unique so I should look at each person differently.
• GOD made each person distinct so I should figure out a way to reach their distinction instead of rejecting them because it is too hard.

JESUS was rejected as the “Cornerstone” of the church. Upon this rock the church sits. When I choose to fall on it I am broken to pieces for HIS service. When I reject the use of the Cornerstone, it falls on my feeble plans and they are crushed.

Pastors, preachers, ministers and the priests of the day rejected JESUS. GOD wants me to gravitate towards HIS ways and be broken for HIS purpose.

• Are you rejecting people so that you can fit in the crowd?
• Does your job make you reject people?
• Can you start accepting those GOD sends into your life?