1 Peter 2:4-5 (NKJV) Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 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.
We all have rough edges in our lives. Attitudes, actions, or thoughts that need to be smoothed out by the Holy Spirit. The Bible reminds us that it is God that is working in and through us, smoothing out those spiritual rough edges for His glory and fame. Together as His church, we become the very Holy of Holies where God's Spirit resides; in us! The glory of God can both be seen and enjoyed through our lives!
When Paul writes to the church in Ephesus he tells them, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22 (NKJV)
What a picture! We are living stones growing up together in Jesus! The beautiful work of God in our lives smoothes out the edges so that we can grow together in depth and width. Dead stones fit together nicely with very little problems. But living, squirming, and vibrant stones can sometimes rub each other the wrong way. Yet even in that, we can rejoice because God knows the rough edges of our lives that will soon be smoothed out.
That's why, my friend, the mature believer sticks it out when times get tough. It's so important not to run away. A person who has a habit of running away when times get difficult, only adds to the layers of heartache as each place she runs to, the same problems are there. Why? Because she brought them with her!
Instead begin to pray for the attitude that sounds like, "I'm not going to try to change the location or situation. Instead, I'm going to stay right here and allow You, God, to do Your work through other people that might irritate me in order that I might grow up in You."
In His Great Love,
Pastor Ed
Response
Pastor Ed, The comment about "just hanging on" made me think of a walk that Calvin and I were on recently. We came across a man sitting on a park bench. I greeted him and asked how he was doing. His response? "Almost perfect." I loved it. It reminds me that things are not perfect here on earth, but in God's economy, our place is in heaven and there, everything IS perfect. I think I will use that response from now on when asked how I am...
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