1 Peter 2:4-10 TLB
4 Come to Christ, who is the living Foundation of Rock upon which God builds; though men have spurned him, he is very precious to God who has chosen him above all others.
5 And now you have become living building-stones for God’s use in building his house. What’s more, you are his holy priests; so come to him—you who are acceptable to him because of Jesus Christ—and offer to God those things that please him. 6 As the Scriptures express it, “See, I am sending Christ to be the carefully chosen, precious Cornerstone of my church, and I will never disappoint those who trust in him.”
7 Yes, he is very precious to you who believe; and to those who reject him, well—“The same Stone that was rejected by the builders has become the Cornerstone, the most honored and important part of the building.” 8 And the Scriptures also say, “He is the Stone that some will stumble over, and the Rock that will make them fall.” They will stumble because they will not listen to God’s Word nor obey it, and so this punishment must follow—that they will fall.
In our passage today, Peter sets forth many wonderful things about the character of Christ—our Living Word and Cornerstone. Although some may reject Christ as the Word, to believers he is trustworthy, precious, and the ultimate authority of the church. As believers, we welcome the Word to develop Christ’s character in our lives knowing our obedience will reveal our oneness and unity of love as God’s children.
As we live our lives in a fallen world, we may be tempted to disagree over cultural issues, but let us remember our responsibility to stay the course in oneness with the Word. God never created us to be one with the world. Actually, the world hates the Word who has taken up residence within believers. If we are going to be made in Christ’s image, then we must choose to listen to God’s Word and obey it.
Prayer: Lord, with so many different messages being sent throughout the world, let me cling to your Word and obey it. As I listen, I will know your Voice and recognize when the messages do not line up with your character and commands of love. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for being my Helper and bearing witness when I have heard the Truth. You keep me victorious and moving forward toward your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.