Putting faith into action
1 Peter 2:5a “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.”
Maybe this word picture which Peter uses here is another one of those head-scratchers. When was the last time you saw a stone moving or talking like they were alive? Obviously Peter is speaking figuratively, but what exactly does he mean?You can get a pretty good idea when you look at the end of our verse for this week. The “spiritual house” which Peter is describing is the Christian Church or all believers who have ever lived here on earth. When you understand that, you quickly realize that Peter is speaking of and including you and me in this picture. We are the living stones and all believers together make up the spiritual house of the Christian church.
The reason Peter uses that rather peculiar picture of living stones is to remind us that we are to be alive and active as Christians. We are not to be the “frozen chosen” who stoically gather in church or in our “holy huddles” and are not actively working to live and share our faith. Instead we are to be “alive” in our faith working to give glory to God in all that we do.
So what is your role as a “living stone”? Are you a leader or a worker or a “behind the scenes” supporter?
Perhaps another analogy which we can relate to is the idea of a team. In order for a team to work well, each member of the team needs to not only know their role, but also fulfill their role and carry it out. There are many different roles or places on a team and none of them is more important than the other. Just because you are not the star or the leader of the team does not mean that you are not important. Those supporting or encouraging roles have a very important place as well.
Our work in the ministry of TLHA is one small piece in the bigger picture of God’s spiritual house, the Christian Church. Think for a moment of the over 600 living stones who are a part of TLHA’s mission and ministry. God has put each of us in a place where he knows our gifts are important and valuable to carry out our particular place as the living stone that God has made us.
Widen the picture out a bit and you can likely see how you fit in the wider scope of God’s spiritual house in a Christian congregation or living as a Christian in the world.
Treasure that God has made you a part of his house and given you your place and role as a “living stone”! Ask God’s help that you can live out your full potential as your role and place where God in his perfect knowledge has placed you! Do all that you can both at TLHA and in the wider picture to make sure you are helping God’s spiritual house to be a place where all are welcomed and all feel supported and encouraged in their role.
After all, we are not living stones for our glory, but solely for God’s glory and praise!