You also, as living stones, are being built into a spirit-filled house. (1 Peter 2:5).
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, send us your Holy Spirit to fill us and make us a spirit-filled house. By your Holy Spirit, open our ears to hear your preached Word. Comfort us by your promise that, through Jesus, we are precious in your sight. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Behind the Walla Walla church shed is a rubble of stones. These are bricks have been ‘rejected the builder.’ Some are odd in shape. Some have been chipped, others cut to size. All have been discarded as unnecessary. A pile of rubbish and rubble.
In our reading, St Peter compares Christ and God’s people to stones such as these. Let’s unpack this important word picture.
(1) The stones are chosen and precious. Christ was rejected by humans. His own people did not believe who he said he was — the Messiah, God’s own son. “How can this man, Joseph’s son, from the back waters of Nazareth, how can he be our Messiah?!” So these builders rejected Jesus. He was thrown onto a rubble heap. With human eyes Jesus looks pathetic: a mere man, beaten and bruised, bloodied and hanging on a cross. Yet God has chosen Jesus. With divine eyes Jesus is precious. This stone may seem ordinary, but God sees that it has a seam of gold, it sparkles with rare gems in the sunlight. So he picks out the rejected stone and calls it precious. You also are chosen and precious in God’s sight. You have been specially elected from the rubbish pile. And you are so precious that you have been reserved to build a special building — God’s very own house, a house for his Spirit, a temple for his presence.
(2) Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. A cornerstone is the first stone laid for a building. The cornerstone sets the orientation and direction of the building. The rest of the building is built on top of the cornerstone. Likewise, the church — God’s holy people and nation — you — you are built upon Jesus Christ, the cornerstone. The church is not built on us meeting in our regular building. The church is not built on worshipping using certain songs or musical instruments. The church is not built on us or our deeds. The church is built on Jesus Christ alone. And wherever Christ is proclaimed — whether that be in a grand building, under a tree, at your kitchen table or in your lounge room — wherever Christ is the cornerstone that sets the orientation and direction, then there is the church.
(3) Stones are rough. Bricks today are fabricated, but in the ancient world stones were hewn from a quarry. The stones needed squaring. They needed to be cut to size. The prophet Hosea speaks God’s word saying: “I cut you in pieces with my prophets” (Hosea 6:5). This phrase “cut in pieces” is a stone mason term, meaning “cut to size.” God cuts us to size with his Word of Law. He shapes you into the person he needs you to be. I wonder: how is God cutting you to size? How is he shaping you for work in his church? Perhaps there is conflict in your family —is an opportunity for God to teach you peace? Perhaps the kids are driving you crazy — is this God teaching you patience? Perhaps you are struggling at work — is this God teaching you to rely on him? The stones are rough, but God is at work in your life so that you are shaped and cut to the exact size for his house.
(4) These are not ordinary stones, but living stones. First, St Peter says that Christ is the living stone. Christ is not dead, but living. He was dead and buried in a tomb, but on the third day God raised Jesus to life. He is risen. He is risen indeed! Second, St Peter says, ‘You also are living stones.’ You also! What amazing good news is packed into these two words: you also! You are a pile of dust, yet God breathes his breath/spirit of life into you, transforming your heart of stone. God takes your rock hard heart and turns it into living and breathing flesh, beating and pulsating with life and hope and a future. You were dead, but you also are raised to life. You also are living stones, like Christ.
(5) Living stones move. St Peter says ‘You also, as living stones, are being built.’ Are being built. Grammatically this is called a present passive. It means, ‘in the process of being built by God.’ The building is not finished. The church and God’s people are a work in progress. You are being built. We might want the church to be finished, to be all neat and tidy. But God says, “How ‘bout I add an extension on out back!?” It might be nice if the church were made from dead stones: it would stay put, it wouldn’t change, it would be same yesterday, today and forever. But the church — you — are living stones. Alive and moving. Like a living organism, the church can respond to the environment around it. It is ever changing, not yet finished, being built. We’ve certainly experienced this these last few weeks, as we as church have adapted to our circumstances. We can do this because we are living stones that are alive and move.
(6) Living stones need nourishment. All living things need nourishment, and so do you as living stones. God’s Word feeds, nourishes, and keeps alive. Jesus says, “We do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). During this time apart we can’t be nourished by the bread and wine that is Jesus’ body and blood. But we can be nourished by God’s Word. How are you ensuring that you hear God speak to you? If you haven’t already, my challenge to you this week is to read through the entire letter of First Peter. It’s only five chapters, so perhaps one chapter a day. After you read, spend some time in prayer being nourished as a living stone.
Blessing. You are living stones being built into a temple of God’s spirit. May you always look toward Christ the cornerstone, who orients and gives life and nourishment. Know that you are chosen and precious to God the Master Builder, he’s picked you out from the rubble for a particular purpose and place in his temple. At times he might square you off, cut you to pieces — this hurts, but it’s so that you fit perfectly into his building and plan. You are living stones, a heart of rock turned to living flesh. May you move with the building, and respond to your environment as a living creature. May you trust in God the Master Builder, as he builds his church. Amen.
