WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.”
1 Peter 2:4-6 (NLT)
Here, Peter further encourages Jewish believers by giving them a picture of who they are in Christ, the Cornerstone that holds the body of believers together. Peter tells them that, in Christ, they are living stones and His holy priests.
As living stones: Each believer, now alive in the Holy Spirit, is living out what it looks like to follow Christ: turning away from their former lives— malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander— and pursuing holy living by obeying God through His word. This forms a beautiful overall image of the spiritual temple God is building through each believer, living stones whose lives bear witness to the good news of Christ.
As His holy priests: In ancient Israel, priests primarily served as mediators between God and His people. Priests performed sacrifices in obedience to God’s commands, to symbolize atonement and reconciliation with God. Christ, the final, perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for sin, is the Mediator through whom all believers offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. Romans 12:1-2 lets us know that living a life transformed by Jesus and obedient to His word is the living sacrifice that is holy, acceptable and pleasing to God.
APPLICATION: Think of one or two actions or attitudes as a Christ-follower that show you are a living stone or a holy priest. What actions or attitudes do you sense God wants to develop in you as a living stone or a holy priest?
PRAYER: God, thank You for Your redeeming work in my life and for showing me who I am in You, as I grow closer to You. Make my life a pleasing sacrifice to You. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?