Week 1 Day 4

1 Peter 2:4-8
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame."
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”

I want you to reminisce for a moment.  Do you remember when you put your faith in Jesus?  Even if you don't remember a specific moment, maybe you remember a person who shared the gospel with you.  Try to remember what it was like.  If you haven't put your faith in Jesus, why not?  

Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith!  What does that mean?  This statement is even more important than saying Jesus is the foundation.  The cornerstone is the first stone an ancient builder would put in the ground by which the rest of the foundation is arranged.  The shape, size, and arrangement is the key to the rest of the building.  This cornerstone will determine whether or not the building is level, square, and so on.  It has to be perfect.  

While only Jesus is the cornerstone, those who have put their faith in Jesus are being built up into a spiritual house.  In this passage, we are the material that is being used to build this spiritual house.  

It should not go unnoticed that the one that people rejected God chose and the ones that reject God's choice trip and fall over the one God chose.  The wisdom of this world is foolishness.  Christians must learn to identify and reject the wisdom of this world and embrace the wisdom of God, specifically the gospel itself.  This is where spiritual disciplines come in to play.  How do you know the wisdom of God without studying His word, seeking Him in prayer, and being in the community of God's people?  The answer is you don't.  

Take some time and consider your relationship with Jesus.  Are you growing?  Is your life reflective of being chosen by God to being used to build a spiritual house?  What might you need to adjust?