We are God’s House of Living Stones.
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.
“Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
Matthew 16:18 New Living Translation
Much in life seems precarious these days. Some days we feel we are barely hanging on, hoping for clarity for the decisions we make, a support system to get us through, and a serene balance for each day. We want our life to make a difference somehow, but each day’s developments can get in the way of our goals. We have the desire to belong to someone, something.
Jesus built a sure foundation for us—His church. He cements us to this foundation by His death and resurrection. We are God’s house of living stones, a body of believers who belong to Christ and His church.
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.”
Romans 12:4-6 New Living Translation
The rock in this photo is Golden Selenite from a cave in Ica, Peru. Over many years, soil, minerals and saline water combine to form crystals which take on the characteristics of their environment—the finer the soil the clearer the crystals, and different minerals produce different colors. Each crystal is unique. But it is very fragile and will crumble unless it is adhered to the foundation of the rock beneath it.
If the church body doesn’t stay firm in the finer soil of God’s word, it can crumble. Divisions can destroy the beauty and divide the church.
“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 New Living Translation
When the church is working together, adhered to the foundation of Christ, each member of the body uses their unique gifts to shine the light of Jesus and to proclaim Christ all over the world. And this unified goal provides a purpose for our lives—we lift each other up, share each other’s burdens, and experience true fellowship.
You are a crucial part of the Church’s function. Your unique gift enriches the church. You have a purpose! Stand united in Him, for the body of His church and its foundation can never be shaken. He is the Rock that prevails against the gates of hell.
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.” Ephesians 1:19-23 New Living Translation
Copyright text and photo Desiree Bustamante
Peter had something like the same reaction when Jesus told him that He was going to Jerusalem to die on a cross. That whole idea of the Messiah dying on a cross just didn’t seem right at all. In fact, Peter goes so far to even trying to stop Jesus from going to the cross!
