Welcome!
Today: Rejected? you have a reason to rejoice!
Passage: 1 Peter 2
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2, NIV) – emphasis added
If you have seen masons working with granite stones, you will understand this
They pick up a stone and see if it fits correctly in the next spot on the wall
These stones do not come square-cut. Each stone is a different shape, as
it comes from the quarry
If a stone does not fit correctly, they will throw it away and pick up the next
Jesus Christ was like one of those “rejected stones” for the religion of his time. They were building their religion up, and thought Jesus will fit-in. But they found out that he was a different kind of a “stone” and just threw him away!
But then, he was the dearest of heaven. He became the chief corner stone of heaven’s project-the kingdom of God-which includes the Church
Throughout the Bible we can see God picking up these “rejected stones” and making them the cap stones elsewhere
Joseph, s/o Jacob is a good example. Jacob himself had to run away from his home and so was Moses. Abraham left his own and journeyed like a nomad most of his life, before God “settled” him!
Unless God “settles” a person somewhere, nobody really settles
David was the “rejected” one in his house. God picked him up-all the way up!
If you were “rejected” somewhere by somebody, you have a reason to rejoice. God is in charge. He allowed it for a reason and will last only for a season!
The crowd that Peter was addressing, was the “scatterd Church”- people who were scattered because of persecution
Those who are persecuted for the sake of their faith in Christ will receive a “rich welcome” into the kingdom of God. Those who suffered the most will “decorate” the special places in God’s kingdom!
If we don’t labor for the Lord, if we do not suffer anything for the Lord, we need not expect much up there. (That is just basic common sense!)
God has put each of us in certain positions where others cannot easily come. That is our mission field. That is where we are to “shine” for the Lord!
The mission field is not within the church, but outside. (God does not use angels anymore to reach out to people with the gospel, because you and me can do a better job, being the recipients of that salvation!
The field (outside the church) is ripe unto harvest. All it needs is you and me!
Have a blessed day!
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for all that you became for me. They rejected you, but you accepted me! You took the cross and you got the crown, which you put on me. Let my very life become my thanks and worship to you. Amen
“Jesus picked up the cross so that we can pick up the crown”