As Living Stones

This week at The River we'll have a special guest-speaker. Marty Stewart will lead us in a discussion relating to 1 Peter 2:4-10.

^{1PE 2:4} And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

^{1PE 2:5} you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

^{1PE 2:6} For this is contained in Scripture:

“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,

AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

^{1PE 2:7} This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,

THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”

^{1PE 2:8} and,

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

^{1PE 2:9} But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

^{1PE 2:10} for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

 As we have considered the direction of our faith community in recent months, I have looked at the scriptures to find the greater purpose of God’s church.  I happened on the above and have listened to what it has to say about our response to God’s love.  

A couple of weeks ago Pastor Jeff made the Mathew reference that the essence of our calling is that we are called to “love God and love your neighbor as yourself.”   I want to focus on the love your neighbor part.  Some neighbors are difficult to love and Christ noted that your enemy is also your neighbor in the Sermon on the Mount, as Pastor Jeff impressed upon us on 9/11.

But how do we do that?  I think we have opportunity but either we don’t recognize it or fear overcomes us and we fail to show God’s love, expressed in Christ living in us, in our relationships with our fellow human beings. Sometimes it is the nature of the neighbor that we can not overcome.  Sometimes it is the heat of the moment that we express ourselves as purely human and fail to reflect the love of God.  Very often we feel ill-equipped to reach out in love and simply avoid the opportunity.  We are not always prepared.

As Peter says, we are being built up as spiritual sacrifices.   How?  I believe this should be a purpose of the church body and leadership to help equip us to boldly reach out in love to our neighbors, and, yes, our enemies and to “proclaim  the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Of the adjectives that we have chosen to describe The River is missional.   I take missional to mean that we are outwardly focused.  Churches have long been marketing to attract membership and numbers and increasing programs to attract more individuals seeking community.  But we claim to be missional.  We are to reach out into the darkness and bring light, Christ’s light.  We are to recognize the oppressed and depressed, the hurting, those in crises, and those in pain that we encounter, and even seek them out, and offer Christ’s love through the Holy Spirit.  Our work is outside the church. 

The church, on the other hand, is for “equipping the saints,” both in spirit and talent.   It is where we get support and rejuvenation.  It is where we get refilled with God’s love and the Spirit.  It is where we are equipped and educated, armed for God’s battle over evil and darkness.  We are to be the light unto the world.