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?

Being Built Together

Being Built Together

Ephesians 2: ¹⁹ So then, you Gentiles are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now citizens together with God's people and members of the family of God. ²⁰ You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself. ²¹ He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. ²² In union with him you too are being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through his Spirit.

 

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As I read the instructions, I noticed I was missing some crucial parts. I was putting together some furniture and did not check to see if all the parts were there. I assumed they would send everything. I had to stop working, go to the store and get a bag of crucial parts that would be used to hold everything together.

 

• I could not finish building without these parts.
• The parts I was missing were easily overlooked.
• The parts, by themselves, seemed unimportant but were truly necessary.

 

“You are members of GOD’s family” is what Paul tries to implore on everyone he is writing to. He gives an analogy of something important for life, namely shelter. The stronger the building, the more desirable the shelter became. People marvel over tall buildings so Paul also explains that JESUS is the most important part of the strong foundation.

 

My Observations

• GOD seems me as important, even though I, alone, do not feel I am very much.
• GOD sees the big picture of which I have a small, yet important role.
• GOD wants me and others to be in union with JESUS so HE can build HIS kingdom and dwell with all of HIS children.

 

Somehow GOD wants to reclaim all HIS lost children to build a supernatural place where HE will live. A building humans built cannot contain HIM, so HE needs the hearts of those who believe to be emptied out so HE can fit inside. HE chose one group of people to spread the message of HIS SON, but unfortunately, they turned against HIM and murdered JESUS, thinking they were doing the right thing.

 

BUT GOD had this in HIS plan and JESUS was raised from the dead. HE now holds the building together and needs each person to believe so HE can put him or her in a special place HE needs. I am glad I am in the family and will do my part to hold it together.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer uses an analogy of a building?
• Do you ever feel insignificant or overwhelmed, thinking you have to do GOD’s job but are failing?
• Can you accept that you are being built to do something special?
• Will you know you are important to GOD and are needed to do only your part so HE can hold the “whole building together” with your help today?

Tumbling Down

Mark 13: Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

² And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

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Proud of my accomplishment I reminisced over how hard I worked to build the department to where it was. When I returned I asked if they were still doing things the way I had set them up. “No” was the answer. A new person had come in and changed everything.

• There were times when I was proud of my accomplishments.
• There were times when I felt what I built should have lasted forever.
• There were times when I tried to build a miniature kingdom.

Marveling at human accomplishments, the disciples pointed out how wondrous the temple was. JESUS replied with a harsh statement. “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

• JESUS says to me “No matter what you build on earth, it will be torn down.”
• JESUS says to me “MY kingdom will never be torn down.”
• JESUS says to me “Build MY kingdom and you will store up treasure in heaven.”

Building something is not the problem. JESUS wants my mind focused on heaven as well when I build something on earth. My tendency is to stop only at earth and get pats on the back from humans. GOD wants me to ask HIM if HE I pleased with my plans and accomplishments. HE wants to be asked first and included all the way.

• Are you trying to accomplish something?
• Do you have something large in mind but do not know how to accomplish it?
• Can you stop trying to be in the spotlight and ask GOD how does HE want things to go?

I’m on my way!

1 John 3:¹ See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

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Finally the program I had written was working flawlessly. I felt quite proud of myself for accomplishing such a task. In fact I thought I needed a promotion. “Who else could do work so masterfully?” I thought to myself. Well, maybe not that pompous, but I still thought “I” was pretty good.

My boss’s boss said I wasn’t ready but he would send me to training. I met some very experienced people in the class and I realized, I needed more time to grow.

• There are times that I think “I have arrived.”
• There are times that I think “I deserve whatever I seek to accomplish.”
• There are times that I think “I’m pretty good, why don’t others see my talents?”

Whenever I think more highly of myself than I should, I fall on my face. My confidence quickly turns into arrogance and I acquire a “deserving” attitude that is quite unbecoming. When GOD watches me pout at not getting my way, HE patiently waits on me.

• GOD has lavished great love on me.
• GOD has made me HIS child and is willing to take care of me.
• GOD has built a place for me and is purifying me day by day.

I am on a journey. My destination is to be like the one who created me. GOD knows I have not arrived. HE knows I will continue to sin and be selfish until HIS SON arrives. HE allows obstacles in my life to strengthen me for HIS purpose. Day by day HE corrects my mistakes and lavishes me with HIS love. I have not arrived but I’m on my way!

• Are you hard on yourself?
• Do you think you have failed?
• Can you realize GOD made you special?
• Do you believe you are the only one who can do what GOD made your for?
• Won’t you accept GOD’s tremendous love for you and ask HIM to open your eyes to your purpose?

Tired of being on my own power

John 6 ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. ¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” ²¹ Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

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Adversity was a staple when budget time came rolling around. How am I going to keep this large headcount while providing value? Attacks from other ancillary departments had to be considered so we put our heads together to strengthen our position.

It was an exhausting season that sometimes had neither fruit nor friendships but our plans got us through the conflict. Many came out wounded, sometimes fired, but we got our budget.

• When adversity comes I try working a little harder thinking I can triumph over GOD’s trial.
• When adversity comes I think I can “plan” my way out of the trouble, only to find more trouble.
• When adversity comes I try to turn my fright into courage but this usually wounds many around me.

An unexpected storm caught the disciples by surprise. They didn’t have any options it was either row or die. They tried with all their might but nothing was working. JESUS showed HIS GODLY power by doing the impossible for any human, HE walked on water. This supernatural act frightened the disciples more. What were their expectations?

• GOD is always with me in the middle of the storm, it takes me to open my frightened eyes to see HIM.
• GOD is always ready to do supernatural things right in front of me if I am willing to accept how and what HE will do.
• GOD is always willing and able to rescue me if I use my power to focus on HIM and not the storm.

Just because I’m good at planning my way out of some adverse situations doesn’t mean GOD won’t put an obstacle in front of me to show me “I need HIM.”  In fact running the race of life can be quite tiring without GOD.

When I invite JESUS into “my boat” adversity cannot touch me and while the turbulent waves of life are still there, HE enables me to make it to shore unscathed.

• Are you trying to change your situation yourself?
• What tactics are you using to manipulate GOD or the people around you to get your way?
• Can you let go of your life and ask GOD “what do YOU want me to do?”
• Won’t you let GOD change “you” instead of changing “that” person?
• Will you give up your worries about “that” situation for a moment to praise GOD?

I’m a work in progress!

Ephesians 2: ¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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Morning was finally here and it was time to go search for some scrap wood. The kids in my neighborhood were extremely enterprising and we were no different. On our makeshift wagon we would tote wood and bent rusty nails back to our “jobsite” next to the garage.

Our building was a clubhouse and our foundation was the garage. Yes, we nailed our two story clubhouse to the garage to make sure it wouldn’t fall down. “Daddy, mommy, look what we did” we said in excitement! They looked frightened and excited at the same time. “It’s something” they said.

• GOD understands I will make mistakes.
• GOD understands I am not finished yet.
• GOD understands I stray off the road constantly.
• GOD understands I need HIM.

Human sin caused me to be separated from GOD eternally. Just being born was grounds to go to Hell because the flaw of sin is passed through birth. Something had to be done or all humans would be lost. GOD stepped up, became a human, accepted to be murdered by HIS humans and was raised to give me eternal life.

GOD saw every sin I would ever commit and said “I will die to save you anyway.” From birth to death, HE erased my sins, but HE had to tear me down in order to build a new structure. From the time I “accepted” JESUS and stopped rejecting HIM, HE started rebuilding me to focus on HIS kingdom instead of me.

• GOD is rebuilding me each time I love a person I don’t want to love.
• GOD is rebuilding me when I seek to know HIM more instead of constantly seeking human knowledge.
• GOD is rebuilding me when I trade judgment for compassion.
• GOD is rebuilding me each time I give up depression for praise.
• GOD is rebuilding me when my loneliness is traded for service to many.
• GOD is rebuilding me each time I say no to fulfilling my lusts.

It’s funny, humans expect me to be perfect, yet GOD doesn’t. HE knows my imperfections and says “perfect, you are just the right person to reach many.” This motivates me to please HIM more.

• Are you a mess?
• Do you understand GOD doesn’t expect you to be perfect?
• Can you talk openly about your imperfections to someone, letting them know GOD loves you anyway?