by Tammy Phillips
May 29, 2020
Coming to Him [as to] a Living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious, 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 2:4-5 NKJV
Jesus is the Chief Corner Stone. He is a Living Stone picked by God, precious and highly valued. He is a priceless living stone. We also are to be living stones following his example. He is the Chosen Stone and we, as His people, are also chosen (1 Peter 2:9). We are being built up a spiritual house.
The Greek word for living is zaō. It means to live, breathe, not lifeless, not dead; to enjoy real life; to have true life and worthy of the name, active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God; living water; having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul.
Most think of stones as being inanimate. We are alive. We are to enjoy real life. The Living Water flows from the Living Stone into us. We can only experience life as God planned it for us when we come to Him and draw from Him living water.
Stone upon stone, we are being built up into a spiritual house, His dwelling place, the body of Christ, the Church. “In Him (all the building) the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22)
We are being built up, not torn down. The Greek word for built up is oikodomeō. This word means:
- Erected
- Restored
- Rebuilt
- Repaired
- Being built up from the foundation
- Growing in wisdom and piety
- Growing in Christian affection, grace, virtue, holiness, and blessedness
- Given strength and courage
The Living Water flows from the throne of God through us, bringing dead stones to life again. The water of the word chisels away, restores, repairs and cleanses the brokenness inside us. Progressively, abrasion yields a perfected stone of strength and courage reflecting the image of Jesus. As living stones, we welcome the living water to flow through us to help encourage the lost, the hurting, the hopeless and the broken.
The Holy Spirit pours life, His living water into us.
It overflows flows
It flows out our door
It flows into our cul-de-sac
It flows down the street
It flows in our neighborhood
It flows into our church
It flows into our city
It flows into our county
It flows into our state
It flows into the nation
It flows into the whole world
It flows into “our world”
It flows into our friends
It flows into our family
One little drop of water causes a great ripple.
One little drop of Jesus in us, can and will change the world.
One little drop of the Living Water will create a whole lot of living stones.
I enCOURAGE you to come to Him, the Living Stone, chosen by God and precious. You also are chosen, precious, and highly valued in the kingdom of God. The Lord needs you to help change the world. He needs you to be like a living stone. He is building a beautiful house, a beautiful bride. Come to Him. Take your place in the building. He needs you to help build up others.
Therefore comfort each other and edify (build up) one another, just as you also are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV)
Complete in Him 