Christ

A Sheep Strolls Through 1 Peter 2:4-8

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Living Stones on the Chosen Cornerstone


“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Beloved friends,

As you sip your morning coffee or afternoon tea, picture a massive construction site. The Architect has already laid the foundation stone—the most important one in the entire building. It was examined, chosen with great care, and declared precious. Yet when the builders arrived, they looked at it and said, “This stone doesn’t fit our plans. We reject it.”

That stone is Jesus.

The world still looks at Him and says the same thing. His claims are too narrow. His cross is too offensive. His lordship is too absolute. But what the world rejects, the Father has chosen and made precious. And here is the wonder of grace: the same Father who chose the Stone has also chosen you to be joined to Him.

You are not a dead stone. You are a living stone—made alive by the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. And right now, the Father is carefully placing you into His building. You are not building the church; He is building you into the church. Every trial that presses against you, every relationship that rubs you the wrong way, every season of waiting—the Master Builder is using it all to fit you perfectly into His spiritual house.

Because you belong to Christ, you also share in His priesthood. You don’t need a special robe or a temple in Jerusalem. You have direct access to the Father through Jesus. Your ordinary life—your prayers, your work, your kindness to your neighbor, your quiet faithfulness when no one is watching—these are the “spiritual sacrifices” that rise as a pleasing aroma to God, all made acceptable because they are offered through Christ.

And here is your security: the Stone that holds the whole building together will never move. Those who trust in Him will never be put to shame. The same Stone that is the foundation of our hope is, for those who refuse Him, a stone they trip over. But for us who have been given the gift of faith, He is our sure and steady Cornerstone.

You are not alone on this construction site. You are being built together with brothers and sisters from every nation, every generation, and every walk of life. The building is still rising. One day it will be complete, and the glory of the Lord will fill it.

Until that day, rest in this: the Stone the builders rejected has become the head of the corner—and you are safely built into Him.

Personal Reflection Questions

  1. When you feel overlooked, criticized, or “rejected” by people, how does knowing that you are joined to the Stone whom God has chosen and declared precious bring comfort to your heart?
  2. In what specific ways is God currently “building you up” as a living stone? Are there any areas in your life where you’re resisting His chisel because you’d rather stay comfortable where you are?
  3. As a member of God’s holy priesthood, what spiritual sacrifices (praise, obedience, generosity, forgiveness, intercession, etc.) has the Lord been prompting you to offer through Christ lately?
  4. How does this passage affect the way you think about the local church? Do you see yourself more as a “consumer” or as a living stone being carefully placed by God for the good of the whole building?
  5. Take a moment to thank God for His sovereign grace. How does it move your heart to know that both the Cornerstone and your place in His house are the result of His choosing, not your own effort or worthiness?

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come to You with grateful hearts, thanking You for the great mercy You have shown us in Jesus Christ. Thank You for choosing Him as the precious and chosen cornerstone, and for graciously placing us as living stones into the spiritual house You are building

.Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have lived as though we were independent stones—trying to build our own lives or shape our own futures apart from You. Help us to come to Jesus daily with humble, trusting hearts. Shape us by Your Word and Spirit. Use every circumstance, every relationship, and every trial to fit us more perfectly into Your purposes.

Make us faithful priests in Your house. Teach us to offer spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to You—lives of worship, obedience, love, and service—all made acceptable through our Lord Jesus. Knit us together with other believers so that Your church may be strong, beautiful, and united in Him.

When we face rejection or opposition for following Christ, remind us that we are joined to the Stone the world rejected but You have exalted. Keep us from stumbling, and give us courage to stand firm on the Cornerstone who will never fail.We rest in the promise that those who trust in Him will never be put to shame. Finish the good work You have begun in us, until the day the building is complete and we see You face to face.

We pray all of this in the name of Jesus, our living Cornerstone. Amen.

40 Days 0f Praise — Day 40 Easter

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CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY by Charles Wesley

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia; Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia; Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia; Fought the fight, the battle’s won, Alleluia

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia; Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia; Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia

Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia; Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia; Following our exalted Head, Alleluia

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia; Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia; Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia; Hail the Resurrection Thou, Alleluia

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia; Everlasting life is this, Alleluia

Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia; Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia

            What greater day is there for a Christian to celebrate than Resurrection Sunday?  Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, we would have no spiritual birthday to celebrate. We would have no Christian faith. We would be of all people the most miserable.

            Our enemy, Satan, could not foresee the return of Christ from death’s domain anymore than he could grasp the reality of mankind’s redeemable soul. He, as an angelic creature, does not have one and neither he nor they fully understand how it works.

            Because of the finished work of Christ, our soul can be born again, born from above, made new. We become righteous, justified, free from sin’s curse. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Lord.

            If a Christian cannot be excited on Easter, if they cannot sing and praise and shout in celebration for Christ’s return from the grave, then I would posit that they are not a Christian at all. Oh, the glorious truth of the gospel writers, showing us the account of that first Easter morning. Sad, dejected, confused disciples go to the tomb. Emboldened, resolute, joyful disciples go forth into the world on Monday, having seen the Risen Christ. May we always celebrate our Lord of Life.

            May we know and prove His resurrection power in our lives.

Lord God, thank You for sending Your Son to purchase our salvation. We rejoice this day, honoring His resurrection from the dead and celebrating His reign at Your powerful right hand.

40 Days of Praise — Day 27

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I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BLIEVED by Daniel Whittle

I know not why God’s wondrous grace, To me He hath made known

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love, Redeemed me for His own

I know not how this saving faith, To me He did impart

Nor how, believing in His Word, Wrought peace within my heart

I know not how the Spirit moves, Convincing us of sin

Revealing Jesus through the Word, Creating faith in Him

I know not what of good or ill, May be reserved for me

Of weary ways or golden days, Before His face I’ll see

I know not when my Lord may come, At night or noonday fair

Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him, Or meet Him in the air

REFRAIN:

But I know whom I have believed, And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed, Unto Him against that day

This hymn has always resonated with me, from my childhood until now. I do not pretend to know why God loves me. I do not pretend to know how He could ever forgive me nor why He would. He, in His mercy, showered me with His grace. That act of kindness overwhelms me now even more than it did when I first experienced it.

               I truly do understand that His Spirit gave me faith to believe the truth of His words. That His Spirit brought understanding to my mind, conviction to my soul, repentance to my heart but how that occurred – it just did. One moment I was living for me, the next I was bowed under the Spirit’s leadership, crying out to God for mercy and forgiveness. What a miracle.

               It is also a miracle that as we read His Word the Spirit makes it come alive, imparting its wisdom and truth to us. God’s Spirit does create faith in us, just as He creates new life and transforms our minds. I don’t know when Jesus will return. He may return for me today. I may die and return with Him years from now but I do know He will return with His saints to judge the ungodly.

               I don’t know many things about the God I have served for 50 + years now. But I do know this: He hides my soul in the palm of His hand and is faithful to keep it forever. I love how the refrain of the hymn is a direct quote from 2 Timothy 1:12. God is faithful and He is able to keep us from falling. He never fails to keep a promise and His Spirit has sealed me in His love forever, praise His holy name.

Thank you, Lord, for keeping my soul safe forever. Thank you for redeeming it. Thank you for sanctifying it. You are a great God and worthy to be praised.

The Sin That Springs Up

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Bitterness is a terrible sin that afflicts many people. It is the type of sin that seems to  spring up, although in reality it has long lain dormant in our lives. No one grows up wanting to be a bitter old man or a bitter old lady and yet so many people in today’s society are bitter. Teenagers, young adults, senior citizens, both inside and outside of Christendom can become bitter. Warnings in Scripture abound about this insidious sin:

 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.  See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; Hebrews 12:14-15

Sometimes guilt is confused with bitterness. Guilt is what we feel when we sin. Bitterness is what we feel when others sin against us. Bitterness is almost always based on someone else’s sin against us, whether that sin was real or imaginary. What do I mean by this? Imaginary sin is when we think someone said or did something against us that they really didn’t do. We get bitter waiting over an apology that will never come because we only thought we were harmed.

Some sins against us are real. Bitterness is not concerned with how big the sin is, it is based on how close it is to you. It does not depend on how great the evil was, it depends on how close the offending person was to you. Bitterness is directly related to those people we are (or were) closest to.

Hebrews 12:15 describes bitterness as a root. Roots are mainly underground. They are rarely seen. The effects of roots though, that can be readily seen. They break up sidewalks, roads, water pipes. They extend deep into the ground and spread out over a wide area. Roots drink in nourishment and eventually a sprout comes up above ground. Later a plant grows and bears fruits or seeds.

The fruit that is born bears a direct relationship to the root producing it. Apple seeds grow apple tree roots that support apple trees which bear apples. A bitter root in your heart will grow deep and wide, supporting, sprouting and producing bitter fruit. We are told that bitterness defiles many people. That word for defile means to make people filthy. Bitterness spreads like a wildfire, consuming families, workplaces, churches and classes of people. The Bible says we have to get rid of it. Why? Because bitterness, is not only defiling and hurtful, it is also unspiritual – straight from the devil. James 3:14-15 says:  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. If not gotten rid of quickly, bitterness will result in evil practices which will defile both you and those around you.

Before you can get rid of bitterness, you must recognize it. How can you tell if you have a root of bitterness in you, waiting to spring up? Bitterness remembers details. You have thousands of conversations in your lifetime. How many of them do you remember in detail, word for word? Not only the words, but the intonation, inflection, gestures and facial expressions of the other party? Most of the ones we recall are those we feel sinned against by. Memory is helped by review, review, review. A constant reviewing of slights, real or imagined, leads to bitterness. I see this over and over in divorce counseling and family counseling. Conversations from years back are replayed in great detail when a party is hurt but positive conversations are fuzzy in the related details.

In order to get rid of bitterness we have to recognize, admit, and confess we have a problem. And the problem is with us – not the other party. Many times, I hear people say, “I’m not bitter. I just get my feelings hurt easily.” Really? Oversensitivity leads to resentment which turns to bitterness very quickly if not dealt with. You see, bitterness is just resentment that has been held on to. It is resentment that has festered and rotted.

We must recognize how insidious bitterness is. How evil it is. Bitterness always wants to blame the other person, the one who has hurt us. We don’t deal with the sin of bitterness so long as we think continue to think it is the others person’s sin. “When he quits lying” or “When she stops doing this” or “When they apologize to me for…” What if the other person never stops, never apologizes, never even recognizes that they have hurt you? Are you going to be resentful and bitter forever? A Christian cannot. He or she must forgive others even as Christ forgave us for sinning against Him.

When bitterness takes root even an apology will not get rid of it. Bitterness is always the sin of the bitter person alone, unrelated to anyone else. You and you alone choose to remain angry at another and withhold forgiveness. Christ went to the cross for us before we repented of any sin. We were unworthy and undeserving of this kindness and we are to show that type of grace and mercy to others.

In order to eradicate bitterness from my life I have to see that it is evil, satanic and that it is my sin and my sin alone. I do not get rid of it through the other person apologizing. I do not get rid of it if the other person stops their actions or if they die. I do not get rid of it any other way except calling it a sin against a holy God, confessing it and receiving His forgiveness.

If this is not done, bitterness will devastate you spiritually. If you have unresolved bitterness in your life then you are not right with God. You are not walking according to His Spirit but according to your flesh. It will devastate those closest to you. It will infect family, friends and your brothers and sisters in the church.

In Galatians chapter 5 the fruit of the Spirit is listed. Such things as love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and godliness are mentioned. When you are bitter towards someone you withhold love and you don’t feel joy around them. You are in turmoil, no peace. You are not patient with them nor are you gentle with them. You are not walking in the Spirit. Galatians goes on to say we reap what we sow. Bitterness halts spiritual growth altogether.  Remember, if you are not walking in the Spirit then you are not growing in the Spirit either.

Bitterness also destroys you emotionally. Bitterness will lead to discouragement and paranoia. You develop a victim mentality, believing that person is always out to get you. Eventually you may believe that about everyone else as well. You become negative, critical of others, always finding some fault even when they do something well. You become judgmental of their motives and secretly wish them ill, hoping they fail at whatever they try to do.

After admitting our bitterness, confessing it to God and asking His forgiveness, we need to pray for others. Not about them, but for them. To pray that God draws them close to Himself and they become great instruments for Him to use. Think of those people you don’t get along with, those you don’t particularly care for. Can you pray this for them? If not, check your heart. You might have a root of bitterness lurking, waiting to spring up.

 

Challenging Words of Wisdom

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newton

I have been reading in the fascinating book (that my wife gifted me with) and it has been a tremendously challenging read. There are hymns of Newtons that I never knew existed, full of deep and meaningful lyrics. There are excerpts from many of his pastoral letters that resonate with compassion and grace. Above all, there is the ringing theme that we must look to Christ and Christ alone for all that we need.

This is a practical book. It is full of statements and insights that require deep thinking on and much pondering to grasp all that Newton says, but it is practical in application. I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to know more of Christ and His grace. This is a book that I will come back to time and time again to mine more of its depths.

As you read Newton’s letters, hymns and sermons, you will come to a greater appreciation of how sufficient Jesus is for every need and how truly amazing His grace is.

Re-educating the Church

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Back in the early ’80’s when I attended high school,  one of our required classes was “AVC”, otherwise known as Americanism vs. Communism. Far more than just a class on governments, the course outlined the philosophical differences between the two ideologies.  One of the stark differences I remember was that in countries like North Korea, Soviet Russia and others, political and religious dissidents and advocates were routinely sent to re-education (through labor) camps. These were a highly effective way of ensuring group think and keeping the powers that be in control.

Fast forward 30 years to present day America.  More and more of our citizens are being sentenced to re-education classes, facing fines and/or jail time for not “evolving” on social issues such as abortion, gay rights, marriage equality and other issues. We have seen heavy handed government enforced re-education philosophies at work in Houston, Idaho and Minnesota recently. Private organizations, churches, even football teams are being pressured to adhere to the new social norm. Anyone who resists must be a Neanderthal in need of re-education to get with the program.

Christians have two choices in froont of them: acquiesce and lose all resemblance to Christ we profess to be like or push back, stand for our beliefs and take any and all punishment meted out by the state as Christ and the Apostles did. America is no longer a safe haven for Christiandom. Declare your allegiance because now it is Americanism vs. Christianity. Teach your children now how to stand in the faith so they can rise up in your place and carry the legacy of the cross forward. Stand and be counted. Now is the time to choose who you will serve.

Quit moaning and wringing your hands wondering what you can do. Live your life according to Biblical principles, engage the culture, vote for moral values – not for party or union dogma and pray for those in power over you that the Holy Spirit would transform their lives. Please, stop lying to yourself that you can just “live your witness” and that will be enough. You must speak, must verbally proclaim the life changing gospel while backing it up with your lifestyle. It isn’t one or the other but both in harmony that provides an effective witness.

When I was young I heard over and over, “When we get together we can talk about anything but religion or politics.” We have reaped what we have sown; masses that cannot think critically about the long term implications of policies and a muddled, confused and impotent church that is irrelevant to mainstream America. Now is the time to declare your true intentions – are you ready to stand up for Jesus no matter the personal cost or are you going to shrink away and continue to compromise? Stand up for Jesus. Stand with your brothers and sisters facing persecution. Get involved and be a force for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

Security, not Possibility

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One of the most reassuring facets of our Lord  Jesus Christ is, to me, His ability to secure our salvation. We serve a God who not only can save, but who actually does so. The gospels abound with such wonderful statements such as Mt. 1:21, ” And you (Mary) shall bring forth a son and younshall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins” and Mt. 18:4 “For the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost.” How wonderful is the phrase He shall save” – not just He will make salvation possible, but that He is actively going to save His people.

The fact that He not only loved us first, when we did not love Him, coupled with the truth that He saves us precisely because we cannot save ourselves is staggering. Left to ourselves, we would not come to Christ even if we could. Thankfully, He came to seek and save us. He calls us and bids us to come, follow Him just as He called the disciples. He draws us to Himself, saving us from this corrupt generation.

It is not just that He died to secure the possibility of salvation for those who would believe,  but that He died to save those to whom He gives the faith to believe on Him. My eternal destiny is secure because He chose me and for that I thank Him. On my own, I could not have and would not have chosen Him. Truly, our Lord is the God of salvation.

The Christmas Carol that isn’t a Christmas Carol

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It is written about a pious duke and doesn’t mention the nativity at all. St. Stephen’s feast day, December 26th is spoken of but not December 25th, Christmas. Yet this carol, set to a springtime dance tune, continues to gain devotees each year. Why is Good King Wenceslas sung at Christmas? One reason is because of the feast of Stephen and the other is because King Wenceslas portrays Christianity at its finest – helping the poor and downtrodden. Jesus came to set the captives free, give sight to the blind, lift up those who were bruised and broken and give them hope. Hope of salvation, hope of a life eternal and hope of a better life here and now. When Christ transforms a soul, they no longer think selfishly but think of others, sacrificing so that they can minister in Christ’s name. Isn’t that what Wenceslas did, in both the carol and real life?

While it is not a Christmas carol in the traditional sense, it does speak of a life that Christ has transformed and isn’t that why Jesus came? He came to transform people from death to life, from selfish to spiritual, from lost to found. Those whose lives have been transformed will seek to do good works so that God is glorified and people are brought to His Son. So sing this sort-of, almost a Christmas carol. Sing it the day after Christmas on the feast of Stephen. Sing it and think of what acts of kindness you can do to reflect the love of God that has transformed your life. Sing it and thank God that He does transform people like you and I, and Wensceslas, into saints.

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath’ring winter fuel

“Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know’st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes’ fountain.”

“Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither.”
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind’s wild lament
And the bitter weather

“Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.”

In his master’s steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing 

WORLD | In defense of Richard Dawkins | Marvin Olasky | March 16, 2013

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Another cowardly attempt to paint Christianity as evil and never address Islam. If we beheaded those who disparaged Christ would they stop their pathetic efforts to ridicule something they cannot possibly understand?
Why is it okay to slander Judaism and Christianity but not Islam? Dawkins is not only a fool (that’s what the Bible says about those who do not worship God) but an opportunistic coward. If he truly does not believe in a God, then it doesn’t matter what religion’s god is being talked about, Dawkins must show the same lack of belief in any of them to be consistent with his claim of being an atheist.
Of course, a true Muslim would be offended by his slander of the God of the Hebrews anyway – that is, if they read their Qur’an. So how about it Muslim world — any takers on defending God’s name?

WORLD | In defense of Richard Dawkins | Marvin Olasky | March 16, 2013.