I AM A LIVING STONE
(The pronoun "I" refers to you the reader)
(Adapted from 1 Peter chapter 2)
I have put away all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all slanders, and as a newborn baby, I desire the sincere milk of God's word, that I may grow up to salvation, for I have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
I go to Jesus who is a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. I also am a living stone, being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. As it states in the scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone,
elect, precious:
and he that believes on Him shall not be confounded.”
Therefore, because I believe in Him, He is precious: but unto them which are disobedient, He is “The stone which the builders disallowed. He has been made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”
But I belong to a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, one of God’s own people; that I should proclaim the praises of Him who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. In past times I was not “a people,” and but now I am one of God’s "people." In times past I had not obtained mercy but now I have obtained mercy.
I am a stranger and pilgrim in this world, therefore I abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against my soul. I live a Christ like life among those who do not believe. So, when they speak against me as an evildoer, they see my good works and will glorify God in the day He returns.
I submit myself to every human authority for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king as supreme, or to governors, for they are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so it is God’s will, that by doing right I may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. I live as a free person but I do not use my liberty for a cloak of evil, but as a servant of God.
I honor all men. I love the brotherhood. I fear God. I honor all government leaders. I am subject to my employer with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the over bearing. For what glory is it, if, when I am punished for my faults, I take it patiently? If I do what is right, and suffer for it and take it patiently; this is acceptable with God. For to this I was called, because Christ also suffered for me.
He left me an example, that I should follow His steps. He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Yet, when He was reviled, He reviled not again. When He suffered, He did not threatened, but committed Himself to the Father who judges righteously. Who in His own self bore my sins in His own body on the tree, that I, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. By His stripes I am healed.
For I was like a sheep that had gone astray; but now I have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul. For only in Christ can I find hope for the present and the future.
...Love one another from the heart fervently: having been born again, not of
corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever. 1 Peter 1:23,24 WEB
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Revised: October 1998
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