1 Peter 2:2-10
Did you ever notice how some deaf people speak? The words can almost seem slurred. This phenomena is really quite simple and perhaps expected. Our speech is based to some degree on what we hear. What we utter ourselves we hear and self correct all the time, all day long. What we hear from others we emulate. It's one of the reasons you can actually develop a different accent if you are moved to a new area as a youth. It's because your speech is based as I said, to some degree on what you hear and process in your brain. When you don't have that feedback into your brain from hearing, your speech doesn't have that mechanism that keeps the speech sharp. Eventually it can sound slurred.
This is exactly the same with our faith. If you believe in our savior Jesus Christ and if you believe that he died especially for you because of his love for you, for your uniqueness, created by the Father, then you are called to do certain things to keep your faith sharp. Certainly love others. Certainly say thank you to God. Perhaps more importantly is to not let that gift of faith linger and wither away.Your faith must be nourished.
Who would recognize that they are a cornerstone, made by God, and set that stone badly or set other stones upon it badly? Wouldn't the building that results be in danger of collapse? You do not set bad upon good. You also don't set a cornerstone (You!) and stop building. We are meant to grow and be the great creation God started with and meant us to be.
So you agree? I hope. You know you have to feed the gift that has been given to you. What does that really mean? It means you have to carry on a regular conversation with God (pray). You have to attend services on a regular basis, not just once a year. Perhaps it also means that you should read scripture or take a class. Something that helps your faith remain healthy and grow.
You are the cornerstone, specially prepared by God. Go build a skyscraper that reaches for the son!
Did you ever notice how some deaf people speak? The words can almost seem slurred. This phenomena is really quite simple and perhaps expected. Our speech is based to some degree on what we hear. What we utter ourselves we hear and self correct all the time, all day long. What we hear from others we emulate. It's one of the reasons you can actually develop a different accent if you are moved to a new area as a youth. It's because your speech is based as I said, to some degree on what you hear and process in your brain. When you don't have that feedback into your brain from hearing, your speech doesn't have that mechanism that keeps the speech sharp. Eventually it can sound slurred.
This is exactly the same with our faith. If you believe in our savior Jesus Christ and if you believe that he died especially for you because of his love for you, for your uniqueness, created by the Father, then you are called to do certain things to keep your faith sharp. Certainly love others. Certainly say thank you to God. Perhaps more importantly is to not let that gift of faith linger and wither away.Your faith must be nourished.
Who would recognize that they are a cornerstone, made by God, and set that stone badly or set other stones upon it badly? Wouldn't the building that results be in danger of collapse? You do not set bad upon good. You also don't set a cornerstone (You!) and stop building. We are meant to grow and be the great creation God started with and meant us to be.
So you agree? I hope. You know you have to feed the gift that has been given to you. What does that really mean? It means you have to carry on a regular conversation with God (pray). You have to attend services on a regular basis, not just once a year. Perhaps it also means that you should read scripture or take a class. Something that helps your faith remain healthy and grow.
You are the cornerstone, specially prepared by God. Go build a skyscraper that reaches for the son!
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner’,
and
‘A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall.’
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner’,
and
‘A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall.’
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
No comments:
Post a Comment