I was on Pinterest recently and noticed that there are so many things made of stones. Take a look at some of these very creative and artistic items made from mere stones. 
It’s amazing to me that something as plain as an old stone or rock can be turned into something so beautiful, different, and useful. Even with their flaws – the discoloring, the cracks, the creases – when handled by a master craftsmen (or these days a do-it-yourselfer), can become works of art – masterpieces even.
When our master craftsmen, the Creator of the Universe, draws us to Himself, something wonderful happens there, as well. We begin the journey of becoming more and more like His Son, Jesus, and this is very precious to Him. Just like those stones are given a new purpose, so are we. And just like those stones take on a new identity, so we become new creations in Christ.
As we begin our study this week, let me remind you again of our format. We will: Search, Discover, Apply, and Pray. Let’s begin.
Search the Scriptures by reading 1 Peter 2:1-12
Now let’s discover and apply what God says by studying the Word of God carefully.
In verses 1-3 we are told to “put away” some things. What are we to put away?
Do you need to put away any of these things today? Are you struggling with malice (doing harm or evil to another)? What about deceit or hypocrisy? Are you an envious person, a gossip or a slanderer? We must literally, as though we are putting away our summer clothes and getting ready to wear our new fall wardrobe, rid ourselves of these things. Instead of putting them in a closet down the hall or in the attic, though, we need to take these out of style pieces to the dump, throw them in and run away!
It’s hard sometimes to “put away” things that we’ve become accustom to, isn’t it? Do you know what helps me when I’m trying to do a closet make-over? I ask my good friend, Christin, to come over and she helps me decide what should stay and what should go. She helps me reorganize my closet, put together trendy new outfits that are lovely to look at, and then she makes me pack up all the things that we’ve decided must go and take them away. I couldn’t do that on my own. I don’t have the discipline, desire, or determination. I’m a pack rat!
Do you know that is exactly what God’s Word helps us do with those ugly things like malice, deceit, envy, and hypocrisy? We don’t have the discipline, innate desire, or determination to rid ourselves of those comfortable old rags. No way! But God’s transforming Word does. And just like it says in 1 Peter 2:2, if we will long for God’s nutritious, satisfying, pure, and holy Word, we will indeed “taste that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 1:3)
Do you long for God’s Word? Do you love to get a taste of it each morning? It’s precious to God, dear one. And when we desire it, crave it, and go to it, that is precious to God, as well! He longs to make masterpieces out of us, and His most effective tool is His transforming Word.
In verse 4 we see a phrase that is key to this entire passage. Verse 4 begins with these words, ” As you come to him.” We must come to Him. We cannot be like those who rejected Him. As we come to Him, we become living stones just like Jesus. Then God begins making His masterpiece. He begins to be built us up as spiritual houses and helps us become holy priesthoods. Furthermore, we get to offer sacrifices to Him through Jesus.
Read verses 6-8 below.
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.
Did you catch the promise in verse 6? When we believe in Jesus, the precious cornerstone, when we make Him the foundation of our faith, we will never be put to shame.
Have you made Jesus your foundation. Is He the cornerstone or foundation of your being? What about the current situation you are in. Are you placing Him as the cornerstone of your faith or are you stumbling over the unsteadiness of your faith because of your lack of dependence and trust in the Living Stone, Jesus?
1 Peter 2:9-12 remind us of who we are and what we are to do and not do. He reminds us that we are …
- A royal priesthood
- A holy nation
- A people for His own possession
Do you understand what that means? It means that you are from a royal line. You are royalty! Do you act like it? Do you embrace that idea and live it out in your life? Your heavenly Father is reigning in Heaven. His Son, Jesus, is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are God’s daughter and Jesus’ bride.
Next you are a holy nation. You are being made holy. Ultimately, because you are “in Christ”, you are already positionally holy. But you are currently a sojourner here on earth. You are passing through and as you make your journey through this earthly life, you are being made holy, day by day.
Finally, you are a people for His own possession. You are special. Are you living as though you are?
Are you “proclaiming the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light?” (verse 9)
Now, because we are all those things, we have standards to live up to. There are certain things that we cannot do! We are to “abstain from the passions of the flesh.” (verse 11) That means we can’t say, do, or act the way we feel like it all of the time. We have to use restraint. We must conduct ourselves honorably so that when others who are not living stones, see us – the way we act, talk, and respond – they can give glory to God.
Authentic is the word that comes to mind! We must be authentic as we go about our lives as living stones being built up as spiritual houses. Material that is not what it claims to be is useless when building a house. If a brick, which is sturdy and strong, is more like a marshmallow, then your house is going to fall apart. It won’t last. The same is true with regard to the way we live. If we aren’t who we claim to be “in Christ” our testimony will fall apart! We must be authentic, precious living stones to the honor and glory of our great God.
Are you living an authentic life? Would those around you say that you are who you claim to be?
“As we come to Him …” That phrase is key to being a precious living stone to the glory of our awesome Father.
Are you coming to Him daily? hourly? moment by moment?
What do you need to come to Him today to receive?
Will you allow the Master craftsmen to make you into His treasured and precious possession?
Let’s pray …
Precious Father, will you help me today be the living stone that sings of Your glory and majesty? Will you allow my life to be a living testimony to Your greatness? Will You help me rid myself of things that are not royalty? Will You help me abstain from fleshly passions? Allow others to see Your goodness and grace at work in my life. In Your Son’s name, amen.
If you’d like to take a deeper look at the Book of 1 Peter, join our Online Study Group. We are going through Putting on a Gentle & Quiet Spirit by Elizabeth George, an inductive study of 1 Peter.
Jacqueline Heider is the Director of Women’s Ministry, Prayer, & Resource Specialist at Warren Baptist Church.