Through the Bible - Ezekiel 32-34, 1 Peter 4
Good morning,
In reflecting on yesterday's verse which called us to "crave" spiritual milk I thought about how a child, (a little child at least) desires to be like their parents. Perhaps you've seen this in your own kids, or brothers or sisters, or even grandchildren. It is a natural part of their growth.
That desire should be in us to be like Christ. I thought of the old hymn, "Oh to be Like Thee", here are a few lines.
Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand'ring sinner to find.
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand'ring sinner to find.
That thought, the desire to be like Him carries over to today's verse which followed yesterday's in 1 Peter 2:
1 Peter 2:4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.
5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. NLT
In a sermon on this passage, John Piper states that, "when we come to the living stone and are shaped into living stones ourselves, we are built into a "spiritual house." Christ is the builder here. He builds individual Christians into a spiritual temple. It's spiritual because it houses the Holy Spirit. "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). (That's a reference to the local church, not to individuals in this context.)"
When we come to Him, He takes us and shapes us, uses the gifts that He has given each of us to build His church. Each stone is custom made. How precious, of how much worth is that?
Piper continues, "God's aim is that we offer him spiritual sacrifices (we'll talk about what that is in a minute). And we can only do that "through Jesus Christ." Jesus is the Living Stone. Everything hangs on our coming to the Living Stone. If we don't come to Jesus, the Living Stone, then we don't have life and we are not built into a spiritual house, and we do not become a holy priesthood, and we will not offer spiritual sacrifices. It all hangs on Jesus and connecting with Jesus—coming to Jesus. That's why Peter ends verse 5 with the words "to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
If we are to grow, if we are to please Him we must come to Him. He will lead us to offer spiritual sacrifices. What will these look like? "They are the deeds you do, the words you speak, the songs you sing—when you do them spiritually. That is, when you do them in reliance on the power of the Spirit, according to the will of the Spirit, and for a manifestation of the Spirit—which is a manifestation of Christ." John Piper
Think of the missions projects going on in your church. Think of all of the aspects that can be applied to these verses. These acts of worship bring food, care, water, buildings and bridges to people who need them, while those who serve receive blessings for being a part of it.
If you're interested you can read, listen or watch this sermon at http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByScripture/4/865_Becoming_a_Spiritual_House_and_Holy_Priesthood/
In Christ,
Mike
The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 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. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
"Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
"The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,"
Has become the chief cornerstone,"
8 and
"A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense."
And a rock of offense."
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. NKJV
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