1 Peter 2:2-10

Instead, like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Now you are coming to him as to a living stone. Even though this stone was rejected by humans, from God’s perspective it is chosen, valuable. You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Thus it is written in scripture, Look! I am laying a cornerstone in Zion, chosen, valuable. The person who believes in him will never be shamed. So God honors you who believe. For those who refuse to believe, though, the stone the builders tossed aside has become the capstone. This is a stone that makes people stumble and a rock that makes them fall. Because they refuse to believe in the word, they stumble. Indeed, this is the end to which they were appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light. Once you weren’t a people, but now you are God’s people. Once you hadn’t received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Have you ever thought about a rock being one of your identities for being a believer? Verse 5 You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple.

I have never had a fascination with rocks. They can be hard to walk on and when projected in the air can crack a windshield. There have been two times that a rock became a part of my faith identity.

The first was in 2007 when I was among a group of deacons selected by the General Board of Higher Education to be a part of the founding group of Project Tariro, a holistic program to empower and help build a sustainable life with unemployed individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe.

We visited several plots of land in Mutare, looking for the right spot to establish our mission. After days of looking and walking over plots of land, we found a spot that we thought would be perfect. Each of us picked up a rock from that sacred ground to remind us of this new beginning that would change the lives of many people. That rock is on my dresser at home to remind me daily of how faithful God is in transforming lives.

The second rock is from one of the limestone walls at St. Andrew's Church in Epworth, England. For some reason I just had to touch that wall – and as I did a piece of the rock fell off. Totally embarrassed, I picked up the small rock, looked around to see if anyone had noticed, and then placed it in my pocket. That piece of rock is also on my dresser and each time I look at it I remember who we are as United Methodist.

It reminds me to ask myself how my soul is doing? It reminds me to do all the good I can as a vessel of Jesus Christ, to make a difference in my parish and beyond.  It reminds me that the grace of Jesus is more powerful than anything in this world.

You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. (vs. 5) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the One who called you out of darkness into His amazing light. (vs.9) Living stones who speak of the wonderful acts of Jesus! There is more to consider:  from the words of Rev. Dr. Derek Weber, Director of Preaching Ministries for the General Board of Discipleship But we are living stones, so what does that mean? How do we carry this foundational presence out into the world? How do we commit to building a church that transforms not just those inside, but those outside as well? How will our body-building strengthen our whole neighborhood and not just ourselves? This is the challenge of the living stones: discipleship for the transformation of the world.

I do not mind being a rock!  

Prayer for Reflection

Acts 7:55-60
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
1 Peter 2:2-10
John 14:1-14