Read 1 Peter 2:1-10
Being a “rock” had special meaning to Peter. Growing up his name was Simon. He was impetuous, impertinent and for the most part impossible. When he was still anything but a rock: stable, trustworthy and solid, that is what the Lord saw in him and changed his name to Petros – “rock.” The Lord sees each of us as being rocks as well. Peter calls us “living stones.”
We need to decide what we are going to do with our being a “stone.” We can toss it aside – live like everyone else, try to blend in and hope no one notices that we really are different. We can plop it down and use it to serve ourselves. Or we can do what the Lord intends – join together willingly to build something substantial that glorifies and serves God. That means working together and supporting each other so that God is pleased and His purpose in and through us is accomplished.
The problem is we are all individuals with different ideas, strengths and weaknesses. Our stones are all shaped uniquely. The only way we can build anything strong and substantial is to have a single point of reference - a foundational cornerstone that bring everything together and keeps what is being built aligned. That cornerstone is Jesus. If we line up our lives according to His character, what He does and why He does it, we will build a kingdom that truly serves and glorifies God. Rather than being individual rocks scattered all over the place, together we can become something significant for God.
This sounds easy enough, except being like Jesus means not being like the world. Peter said this “cornerstone,” with which we need to align our lives, has been checked out and rejected by the world. Yet it is the only one that meets the pure and perfect standard of a holy God. He didn’t choose it from the world, but sent it – sent His own Son – from heaven. It is not a surprise that the world has trouble with this out-of-this-world cornerstone.
Nonetheless, everyone has to decide what he or she will do with Jesus. We either align our lives with Him or trip over Him. He is our cornerstone or “a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” Those who fall are those who choose not to accept Jesus as the foundational stone in their lives. The word Peter used (proskomma) means to “keep kicking at as a foot against a rock.” Instead of building on the rock, they keep kicking at it trying to move Jesus out of the way or into a position that fits what they want. It doesn’t work. He is immovable. They end up falling on their face.
But not you! You are being built into something that “declares the praises of Him who called you out of darkness (where we are prone to trip) and into His wonderful light (where He is seen).” You rock!
Making It Personal
Do you identify more with Simon or Peter? How does it feel that the Lord sees nothing but Peter in you?
To see with the eyes of Christ means to look for the Peter in others. What does this mean to you?
In addition to being aligned with the cornerstone, the stones often have to be adjusted to fit. How does that apply to God using you to build His kingdom? To what extent are you allowing the Lord to shape you as a stone?
Stonework refers to fitting stones together to build something of strength and significant. How should this impact how you interact with fellow believers?
The cost of being a living stone is being shaped, strategically placed, connected intimately with others and possibly kicked. It is a choice. What is yours?
Originally posted 6/12/11
