"The Living Stone and a Chosen people"

12 Mar 09
Thursday of the Second Week in Lent

The Living Stone and a Chosen People
1 Peter 2:4-10

Pictures of ancient temples that have withstood the ravages of time often speak of the sturdiness and enduring quality of these structures. But they only stand as monuments of the past, without the life they once had. They are mere shells of what greatness they once were. The worshippers are dead and gone.

However, Peter tells us that the Church of Jesus Christ is like a living spiritual temple, made up of ‘living stones’ believers, a people redeemed by Christ. And the reason why the church is alive today is that its foundation stone is none other than Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages. Although many reject Christ, those who accept Him as the precious cornerstone of their lives, He has made them His ‘chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people belonging to God.’ He has filled their lives with praise and worship, because He has wrought for them an eternal redemption, which will not be raved by time and mortality.

Jesus had spoken of the house built upon a firm rock that withstood the onslaughts of wind and flood, whereas the one built upon sand collapsed (Mt 7:25ff). He was that rock. He told Peter, ‘Upon this rock I will build My church’. (Mt 16:18), and like the indispensable cornerstone of old which secured the stability and soundness of a building (Is 28:16-17), Jesus had Himself, in His costly death and sacrifice on the cross, paid a great price to become the sure and eternal chief cornerstone of our salvation.

The tiles accorded to His redeemed people (v9,10) speak not only of our privileged position in Christ, but of the inimitable grace of our God. He has made us so that we are able to continually draw near with confidence to His throne, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16) all the time.

(Elder Richard Chia E L,
Elder at Grace Bethesda Church and
Chairman of Care Channels International Ltd)

Commitment:
I surrender all my rights so that I may be truly yours.

Prayer:
Help me, Lord, to be constantly reminded of my calling: a living stone to continually declare your praises. Amen.