What are some of the ways that people describe themselves? Job, hobbies, likes, dislikes… As Christians we describe ourselves first by our relationship with Jesus. In Philippians, Paul understood that it was a mature person that realizes that it is the pressing on in relationship with Jesus that continues to define us.
Almost everyone has heard of the acronym YOLO (You Only Live Once.) But the Bible continuously proclaims that everyone lives forever. Past this life on Earth, we either live wonderfully in the presence of the Father, or in the darkness of Hell absent of His presence.
Peter describes a person who will continuously talk about defining life in their terms. Hardening their heart. Peter says that we need to be careful to avoid being that person. “As you come to him” is not only a command, but a continuous truth. We are to come to him at all times.
In Christ Jesus, we have been giving a place through Jesus to give our selves to the Father. We don’t need a church or building, but we alone are being built into his temple. Just us.
Throughout the Old Testament, God was building his temple through his people. But he had chosen Jesus to be the cornerstone as Jesus. But the world rejects Jesus as the cornerstone, instead turning him into a stumbling block.
We see a world today who rejects Jesus. He becomes someone who is offensive or causes anger. There is a belligerence to those who follow Jesus. Through their rejection, they have taken the cornerstone and turned it into a stumbling block.
When we chose Jesus, we have direct access to God. We are his children, adopted into His house. No priest needed, no lineage required, no nation limited.
Peter then warns against the struggle against sin that still exists. Even more, while we are pursuing God’s purpose for our lives, we will see those in the world fighting against us. But while they might come against us, in the end they will see the good deeds done in the name of Jesus.
The world is watching. We must live out our lives in Jesus each day. They will confront us. They will be angry and confused because they do not understand. We are an alien in the foreign land around us. We love Jesus and want to do his work. And there will be those who see his good work and it will change their lives to choose Jesus and become our brothers and sisters in Christ.
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (ESV)
5 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. (ESV)
6 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.”
7 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,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (ESV)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (ESV)
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (ESV)