Stones: Making God's Faithfulness Your BedrockSample

Your Purpose Comes from the Church’s Position

Peter’s status as a close friend and follower of Jesus determined much of his influence in the early church movement. His position in Jesus’ inner circle was threatened by his cowardice and denial of Jesus, but Christ lovingly restored Peter to his position as a servant in God’s Kingdom—and in doing so, reaffirmed his purpose to go and make disciples. All these life experiences positioned Peter to teach us about being living stones.

Peter’s use of the metaphor of stones isn’t random: Remember that Jesus gave him the nickname “Rock.” In one pivotal scene in Peter’s life, Jesus tells him he is going to be the bedrock of the church. We can take this to mean many different things, but I want to zero in on one. Peter would be one of the first living stones, showing Christians like you and me how to live into that same calling.

In Peter’s first letter to Christians spread throughout Asia Minor, he addresses their fears and struggles through persecution. He comforts, challenges, and calms their fears by reminding them that Christ is the Living Stone. The stone was rolled away for him; and we, too, are living stones. We, too, are going to experience a resurrection. Until then, Peter urges Christians to testify to God’s mighty acts.

I find it wildly comforting to know that our first step toward our purpose is to come to Jesus. Peter doesn’t tell us to get our act together—he tells us to approach our Savior. Peter knows the lows of ministry failures and the highs of being restored. Peter denied Christ when Jesus needed his support but also knew the joys of preaching truth when he knew it wouldn’t be well received. He was one of the few people to witness Christ’s ministry up close, to experience the pain of Jesus’ crucifixion, and to see Jesus resurrected. And Peter was one of the few to hear Jesus’ Great Commission speech and to be present at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came on the first Christians.

Knowing a little of his backstory shapes how I understand his writing in 1 Peter. When Peter exhorts Christians to come to the Living Stone and to be living stones, I trust he knew what he was talking about based on his lived experience. Peter knew what persecuted Christians would need to hear to be encouraged and to stay the course. And the message remains true for Christians today:

• Embrace your position in God’s kingdom: You are a “living stone,” one “called out of darkness into marvelous light,” and part of “God’s people.”
• Live out your purpose for God’s glory: Put your gifts, skills, and passions to the task of sharing the truth that “Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Jesus is the living stone, the ultimate witness of God’s power and grace. And because of him, we, too, are made into living stones by the God whose faithfulness knows no end.

Prayer: God, You are perfect in your power and grace. Help me to embrace my position as a living stone and joyfully live out my purpose for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.