Scripture:  1 Peter 2:4-5

4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you 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.

Observations:

Jesus is the “living stone” rejected by people.

Jesus is chose and precious to God.

Now you all, the Church are like living stones…

You all are being built up as a spiritual house.

You all are being built up to be a holy priesthood.

You all are being built up to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Application:

If our Lord Jesus who is the cornerstone of our faith and our life together was rejected by people it should not surprise us that the spirit of our age is to also reject His church.

But now just as precious as Jesus is the Heavenly Father so is the church precious to Him.  And, He is building us, adding to us, and occupying our life together.

We are being built by Jesus to be a spiritual house.  As such a house we are co-creators with Jesus to develop the environments in which God is honoured and people are healed.  Together we offer our lives as spiritual sacrifices to God (See Romans 12:1-4).  Our primary purpose is not to occupy buildings or even to build them.  Our primary purpose is to venture into the world as His people and participate in His occupation of human hearts.  As we are laying down our lives for His Kingdom He is building us up.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please send your Spirit and build the church of Jesus here so that a people are prepared for your Kingdom.  AMEN.