Friday 19 November, 2021

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

(ESV version read)

⁷ So the honour is for you who believe, … (ESV version)  I am struck by the word honour in this passage, and it’s implications for us. We have been immensely honoured by God, through Jesus, as Peter notes in verse 7. Our honour, in the context of the verses, is that we’re being built up into a spiritual house, part of a holy priesthood, able to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God.

To me, this is honour indeed. How much do I feel like I don’t deserve the forgiveness of God sometimes, little own the invitation to offer spiritual sacrifices that please and are acceptable to God as His priest. But this is who I am, and who we are, because of Jesus Christ! Hence Peter’s noting that it is “through” Jesus Christ. The questions this text asks me is: How are you living in view of this honour, Rob? What are the sacrifices that you are offering to God? How are you living out your identity as a priest – serving God diligently, and helping people discover who He is with that same diligence?

Help me, through Jesus, to live true to this great honour Lord. Amen.

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh