Living Stones

Passage: 1 Peter 2:4-10

Based on what we know of Peter’s story, this section of his first letter can be considered autobiographical. Peter is the disciple who, in spite of his flaws and failures, Jesus chose as the foundation of the church. When Peter calls the members of the church “living stones – rejected by people but chose by God and precious to him”, he’s speaking from experience. Peter isn’t the kind of guy anyone would single out as a natural leader. He’s exceptional only for his tendency to put his foot in his mouth. His actions leading up to Christ’s death mark him as anything but reliable. He knows this and yet finds himself in the remarkable position of being chosen by the Son of God to represent him to the world. To lead the world-transforming movement of Christ's followers. “Like me,” says Peter, “you’ve been chosen by God. You are precious to him. And even now he is making you into his dwelling place. A nation of priests called to be his meeting place with the world.”

God doesn’t choose us because we’re good. God chooses us because he’s good. He’s in the business of using reclaimed and flawed materials in his construction projects. You and me. This is the church. A perfect, “spiritual house” made of imperfect building blocks. It’s a work in progress. And even as God works on the whole, he’s working on each stone - stones like you and me - smoothing edges; shoring up cracks; setting us in such a way that we won’t slide out of place. Each of us is precious to God and integral to Christ’s church. Don’t underestimate the value of every living stone.