12-05-23-ENG.

"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone ... a costly cornerstone for the foundation. "

Isaiah 28:16 
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Read It: 1 Peter 2:4-8 Why does the Bible call us "living stones?" It's because as Christians we're under construction. We're being built into a spiritual house, the Church. We're the only building program Jesus has going right now, and He's intensely interested in how construction is progressing. If verses 4-5 of today's reading sound familiar, it's because we looked at them in detail on Friday of Week One. So I'll refer you back to that study to see how these verses fit into the context here. Peter's message here is that Jesus Christ is accomplishing today exactly what He said He would accomplish back in Matthew 16:18: He is building ing His Church. And there is absolutely no doubt in Peter's mind as to who is the most valuable Stone in the project. It's Jesus Himself, the "living stone" (v. 4), the "choice [and] precious corner stone" (v. 6), the "very corner stone" (v. 7), and the "stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (v. 8). Talk about having the right perspective on the Church. Peter is saying ing that no matter from what angle you view the spiritual building that is the Church, Jesus is holding the whole thing together. Now, not everybody wants Jesus to be their Cornerstone. There are plenty of folk who will tell you, "I don't need the church. I don't need what the church is offering.

I'll come to God my own way." No, you won't. See, God only has one program. He's committed to His church the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). If you aren't into that, then your unbelief means that Jesus is not your Cornerstone but your headstone! Jesus said, referring to Himself, "On whomever [this stone] falls, it will scatter him like dust" (Matthew 21:44). That's the doom Peter is talking about (v. 8). Now let me explain why we as individual stones in God's building need to grow up spiritually. If one side of a building goes up faster than the other side, you've got a lopsided building. If you and I are weak and can't hold up our part, the building will be out of kilter. And you can't blame the Cornerstone. He's solid for all eternity. Think About It If you're not growing, you're jeopardizing the stability of the whole Church. It won't fit together right.