Thought for the Week

There are multiple analogies of Christ’s relationship to His Church. He is seen as the Groom and the Church is His bride. He is the Head and the Church is His body. He is the Foundation and the Chief Cornerstone and the Church is His building. In I Peter 2:4-10, we see Christ as the Living Stone. He is rejected by men but chosen by God (The Triune God) for special assignment. If we are in Him and He is in us and we are in God, then we contain His holiness. Each of us is holy, chosen, precious, we will never be put to shame. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, we are able to demonstrate His praise. We sing of Him and His wondrous work. He is The Living Stone, and we are living stones. We are part of Him and He will use us to build His Church. He has been building, He continues to build and none of us knows when the work of building His Church will be completed. We are to be fully surrendered into His hands to be used as He sees fit. We know He uses some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, some teachers, some miracle workers, some healers, some speak in tongues, some interpret, some exercise ministry, some exhort, some lead, some rule, some show mercy, some demonstrate cheerfulness, some demonstrate faith, some are givers. Some have received gifts, some are called, some hold office. Some are stewards. These are only some who are part of the Church as mentioned in Scripture. I believe the Church needs doctors, nurses, orderlies, custodians, cooks, dietitians, principals, teachers, bus drivers, librarians, businessmen, laborers, bankers, lawyers, farmers, fishermen, waitresses, bakers, manufacturers, seamstresses, clerks, technicians, mechanics, and many, many more. But, as Christ begins to use these living stones to build His Church, He wants them to be fit for His purpose. James speculates: 3:9 “With the same tongue we praise and bless God, and curse human beings, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth come both praising and cursing.” In this dimension and others, Christ has to clean, equip, fit, and prepare His living stones. Scripture warns us that we should expect chastisement and pruning. These are designed to make us fit for His service. Chastisement comes as a punishment when we have done wrong, to correct us and prevent repeating offenses. Pruning comes because we have done right but are expected to do more and better. The Church is expected to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with and before God. The Church is expected to glorify God. It is expected to love, support, to encourage, all the other members of the Church. It is expected to minister to those who are not part of the Church. If we do this we can expect one of two responses. Some will be drawn to God and respond positively to His invitations. Others will become hostile to us. Christ warned His Church there would be some who will treat them as they treated Him. He was despised, rejected, mistreated and ultimately killed. No matter how well the Church obeys Christ, some others will hate it, reject it, and attempt to destroy it. Prepare to submit to God. Know, it is worth whatever the cost to be a part of Christ’s living church.

Scriptures to Read

I Peter 2:4-10

I Corinthians 12:1-11

Romans 12:1-10

Romans 12:11-18

James 3:13-18

James 4:1-10

I Corinthians 10:1-13