TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

1 Peter 2:4-12

DEVOTIONAL

by Rev. Dr. Nehemiah Sia

Living Stones. What kind of stones are we? Are we standing on a Solid Rock based on God’s Living Word? Are we standing on the Solid Rock based on God’s Word?                  

We are Living Stones in Christ, the Chief Cornerstone! 

The LORD Jesus Christ is a stumbling block for Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. But for us, He is the chief cornerstone who keeps our lives together and strong in the midst of the storms of life. Christ is the wisdom of God for us! A house being built together so as to worship the LORD with spiritual sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. What are the spiritual sacrifices that we do together as a local church? We are Living Stones being built up as a Spiritual House of the LORD.                       

There are two purposes of Living Stones in 1 Peter 2:4-12 I. Abstain the desires of the flesh! Say No to temptations! II. Say Yes to God! Live with honor by doing good for God’s glory! Live as living stones with sacrifice, honor, and mercy! EACH LIVING STONE IS DYNAMIC, GROWING STRONG IN THE LORD AND BEARING FRUIT THAT WILL LAST. 

Therefore, Christ alone is the Chief Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure being joined together grows into a holy temple! We are living stones built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom, called God’s people. We are no longer slaves and foreigners because we have access in the Holy Spirit to the throne of grace. We now have a living hope in Christ because this inheritance will last for all eternity. God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives in Christ. It is indeed the hope of the nations, a Christian Utopia of love for God and for one another under Christ our Lord! Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven! How am I committed to God’s Church as a living stone? If we are a chosen race, what are the implications of this reality?

 

PRAYER