As
Peter continued his words to the “scattered” Christians,
he told them Jesus came as a “lively stone” which was
“disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and
precious”, and in chapter two and verse five of his letter,
Peter includes the “scattered” Christians in the group of
“lively stones” where we read:
You also, as lively
stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The
verse begins, “You also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood,...” Peter began with the
words, “You also” which refers to “the scattered
Christians like unto Jesus Christ” “as lively” or
“alive, quick and breathing” “stones” which literally
means “small stones” “are built up” or “to erect,
restore, rebuild and repair” “a spiritual” which means
“relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man
which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ”“house”
or “inhabited home or building”, “an holy” or “most
pure, morally blameless, religious and ceremonially blameless”
“priesthood” which refers to “the office or body of
priests”. Peter included the “scattered” Christians as
“small stones” which as “holy priests” were to be used to
build the house of God.
The
verse goes on to say, “...to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Peter
added, “to offer up” which
means “carry, bring or lead up to” “spiritual”
or “relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part
of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or
organ” “sacrifices”
which are “the act or the victim”, “acceptable”
which means “well received, approved and favorable” “to
God” which refers to “the
Godhead bodily which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son
and the Holy Spirit” “by Jesus”
whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God,
Savior of Mankind and God incarnate” “Christ”
which means “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”.
The function of the “living stones”
was to “bring” “sacrifices”
which are “spiritual”
and “acceptable to God”
the Father “by”
way of “Jesus Christ”.
When we
meditate upon Peter's words, we begin to understand that God is
building an edifice which is spiritual with all those who believe and
trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. We are considered a
“pure and morally and ceremonially blameless” “priesthood”,
and our responsibility is to “offer up” “sacrifices”
which are spiritual and “accepted” by God because of our
relationship to Jesus Christ. May Peter's words inspire us to know we
are being “built up” by God our Father through Jesus Christ to be
the “building of God” for all the world to see.
Next
time Peter shares about the “chief corner stone”, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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