In our text, Peter called his hearers to consider a comparison with newborn babies. We know that they demand attention – a blanket to be swaddled; a “plug” to be pacified, but, ultimately, they need something more than being comforted and pacified. They need to be “filled.” To satisfy their most urgent need, they need milk (food)! In the same way, Peter urges us “like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2: 2-3)
That “pure spiritual milk” is God’s Holy Word – Old Testament and New Testament; Law and Gospel; His Word of hope, forgiveness, mercy and grace! We crave hearing it in worship and sermons; in personal Bible reading and corporate Bible study; in private and family devotional times. God’s Holy Spirit uses our time in His Word to build us up in our salvation, faith and life. As we grow in His Word, we grow in our strength/ability to “flex our spiritual muscles” – to serve, lead, give and make godly decisions.
Our faith is based on the bedrock foundation laid for us by God, Himself, and that foundation is nothing other than Jesus Christ! God 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.” (1 Peter 2:7 quoting Isaiah 28:16) In the “old days,” the cornerstone was the most important stone in the building. It had to be perfect, true and exactly positioned so that all the other stones could find their direction, angle and line from it. In this way the walls could rise straight and sure; able to withstand the effects of time and weather.
Quoting from Psalm 118, Peter says, “Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’ (Keystone).” (1 Peter 2:7) As important as the cornerstone is to the foundation of a building, the capstone is equally essential in supporting a stone archway. If the Keystone was to be removed the whole archway would collapse immediately! Jesus is that most important Stone!
Jesus is the “Living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him.” (1 Peter 2:4) He was rejected by the people, by the religious leaders and by the Heavenly Father, Himself, for that one horrible moment – “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) He was rejected so that we would be accepted; condemned so that we could be freed; died so that we might be forgiven and have life! Jesus is the solid rock of our salvation.
Now, with the hands of a skilled master stonemason, He fashions us into living stones “being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) We offer spiritual sacrifices through our worship, praise and service.
By His mercy and grace He has made us “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that [we] may declare the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2: 9) We thank God that He is “The Living Stone and We are His Chosen People!”
See you in church this week!
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Snow