4-5: We are called to come to Jesus. There is no option. Peter treats it as a done deal. As you come, he says. He does not say if you come, but when you come. We must come to Jesus. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He is the one who shapes and molds us. He is the Master mason, taking the living stones of our lives, fitting them perfectly into His house. We are the very materials He uses to build His dwelling place, His spiritual home. As we come to Jesus we realize that we have been rejected by man. The world does not know what to do with love. It has no place for joy in its blueprints. But we are living stones, precious and chosen by God Himself, so that we might serve Him in His house. As priests we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, which is our spiritual worship. And through the completed work of Christ, our service becomes acceptable to God. This means our entire lives. Every moment of the day, every decision that we make, every thought that we have, must be taken captive, and be rendered as blood on the alter. We die, daily. We sacrifice the will of our flesh, and say no. It is malice that must die. Envy and slander, must die. Hypocrisy and deceit, die. We are no longer stones the world would be comfortable using. We are living stones, made suitable for use in the kingdom. Made suitable by the blood of the Lamb, who desires our service. If that isn't incredible to think about, I'm not sure what is. The Creator God, the Triune Majesty desires our service, not as slaves, but as precious and chosen heirs, as if we had something to contribute. He has made us His priesthood, and His temple. He has made us partakers of His very nature, inviting us into the very circle of His glory. It is no wonder Peter says As you come. How could we say no?
6-8: Scripture bears witness to this great edifice that is being built. The apostles and prophets laid the foundation with Christ as the chief cornerstone. From Him all lines are drawn, and on Him our foundation is secure. Christ is the Stone, and in Him we are living stones, chosen and precious. We will not be put to shame. The prophet knew that the gospel was foolishness to the world's mindset. He knew that it would be a stumbling block to those who do not believe. He comforts us then, insisting that those who trust in Christ, those who become stones themselves will not be put to shame. Their faith will not be in vain. The God they put their trust in will not be shown to be a sham at the last day. His word is sure. We believe in His word. Therefore we have honor. They who refuse to believe will stumble and fall. They stumble because they do not obey the word of the Lord, and the Chief stone has become a rock of offense. They will be put to shame. The god of their world will be shown to be a sham, for there is but one God in Heaven, and His Son Jesus Christ. We belong to Him.
9-10: But you. Words of mercy and of grace. But you. Those who disobey will fall. But you. We are a chosen race, the new humanity in Christ. When Christ rose from the grave, He became the first fruits of the new creation. He ascended into the heavenly throne room, sitting at the right hand of the Father, ruling over His inheritance. To Him had been given honor and glory, dominion and authority, in heaven and on earth so that all peoples, nations and languages should serve Him. He sits on His throne and declares, Behold, I make all things new. He sits there now, and behold He is making all things new. He has begun with us, His Bride. Through us He is recreating the world. Once we were not a people, we were formless and void. Once we had not received mercy, like the earth without the light of the sun. But now we are a people, for He has spoken it with power. Now we have received mercy for the Son has risen and shines on our hearts and our hands. A second Adam has come. A second Eve has been brought forth, in water and blood, from His pierced side. A chosen race, made up of every color; a royal priesthood, both male and female, kings and queens; a holy nation, set apart with every language spoken; a people for His own possession we are. And we are called with purpose. We have been shown mercy and grace so that we might proclaim the Glory of God. We have been called out of darkness. We have been placed in marvelous light. We were once formless and void, and God spoke light into our very souls, and there was light. It is the excellencies of His majesty and power and grace that we proclaim. This is why we have been called. This is why we have been brought into His house, as priests and kings: so that we shout with our lives the living majesty of our God. We do not do this first and foremost with our own particular voice. Before all else we do this as a chosen people. Together we are the nation of God, and it is as a nation that we bear witness to His mercies. It is the reason we have been called, and when God calls, He does so with power and authority. Therefore we will not fail, for we are but the mouthpiece of God, and it His Spirit that goes forth drawing all men to Himself. We simply obey, honoring God and giving thanks with our lives, watching the leaven run through the loaf; watching the mustard seed grow into a tree so large, all the birds of the air find their dwelling place within its branches.
11-12: Peter reminds us that our home is Christ. Our center is found in Him. We are exiles here in this land, dispersed and yet still a people. We have not lost our identity though we be scattered across the land. In fact we identify more clearly with Christ as a dispersed people; a people sent to the corners of the earth, for in our dispersion we see our purpose. Here we find one of Heaven's paradoxes. As a sojourning people, sent from our home city to fill the earth, we find that we do indeed belong here. He who says this world is not our home and therefore we do not belong here draws a false conclusion. The earth was created for man, much like the sabbath, and so it is for man to enjoy. We were not created for Heaven, though that is where we find our head. Earth is the natural place for us to be, enjoying the fruit of its bounty. Though we be citizens of a better country, we have been given this land as a possession; and behold, it is very good. Therefore we can live our lives here with peace, knowing that we can feel settled here, on earth. We can plant vineyards, and harvest grain. We can build cathedrals and invest in our children. In fact it is in doing these very things that we bear witness to those who are spiritual gentiles, of the glories of our Creator. In their presence we abstain from the passions of the flesh. In their presence we do battle with our proclivity to sin. Keep your conduct in their presence honorable, Peter exhorts, so that when they slander you, they are without footing. When they revile us, and we show them love, the love our Lord has shown us, then they will know that we are truly disciples of Jesus, and they will glorify God. Our good deeds are to be seen. But not so that we may be glorified. Our good deeds do nothing but point to the mercy and goodness of God. For in our natural state, we are no better than those who revile. As children of grace good works have been placed before us, so that we might walk in them. This is our testimony to the world. It is with lives like this that we exhort the ends of the earth with the gospel of Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment