I had read the portion of Scripture in a devotional and have been completely stuck on this one page, unable to move on. I have been there for about a week and not exactly sure why. Yet I have been certain there was something contained in the words and paragraphs specifically meant for me. For days now, I have gone back, reread the page, closed the book and wondered, “What am I missing? What am I to learn?”
Back to that same very familiar page, I turned this morning. Only today I used a different version to read the now very familiar Scripture:
Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. (1 Peter 2:5, The Message)
Even as I read the words, I knew something was beginning to click, the stirring inside my heart began to churn.
A stone, as defined by dictionary.com is “a hard substance; a rock or boulder”. It also is defined as “a piece of rock quarried and worked into a specific size and shape for a particular purpose”.
Now it all began to fall into place…..
My life, my heart, can either be rock hard or quarried for a particular purpose.
And so can yours.
Miners can look at rock, which most of us may not appreciate, knowing with a bit of work and processing there is tremendous worth to be uncovered. They will chip and dig and drill and extract and crush as they know the end result is worth all the work and effort. A rock that remains hard will serve no purpose as it has not been brought to life.
In that Scripture, we are called to be “living stones”. A living object will be animated, full of life. As living stones, others should be able to see lives full of purpose and love and hope. As living stones, our lives should exude proof that our faith in Christ truly makes life different for us and worth living.
From that portion of Scripture, I gleaned four things today:
- I am to present myself.
- I am to allow God to do construction in my life.
- My life is meant to be vibrant.
- My life is an offering, which is Christ-approved.
The question I find challenging me, and may it challenge you as well, is this one: Do others see me as a “living stone”? Is there a vibrancy displayed which points to the Source of all life, Jesus Christ?
May we be living stones, called and chosen by God, fitting together to bring Him praise and glory.
Today I am linking with Unite and Tell Me A Story and Soli Deo Gloria and Testimony Tues. and Titus 2sday and Titus 2 Tuesday and Teaching What Is Good and Teach Me Tues. and Outside The City Gates .
Love your thoughts on Stones! I linked up next to you and my title was STONES! http://mylifeasanadventure.com/2014/01/26/stones/
Must be what is on His mind…
Will definitely head over to read your post as I so love when God works that way! Thank you for letting me know š
Amen Joanne!!! Wonderful post… May we be living stones and reflect Him everywhere we go!!! Love and blessings to you my dear friend!!! xxxx
Natasha, you represent such proof to me that our God knits His people together š
This is excellent! Love your four points and the fact that He’s always shaping us to His liking and for His purposes. May we all be blessed with a vibrant life that points to Him! God bless!!
Thank you so much for your encouragement. May you have a blessed week ahead!
Hi Joanne, great post and I loved that you looked at the verse from the Message version. It makes it a little clearer. The way I have often thought of this same Scripture is that I am a rock being used to build God’s church. I am an instrument in the Master’s hands and I can yield myself to be used to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to many others and to disciple them (aka building His church). It seems like an amazing task but we’re also privileged that we can be used as stones in God’s building !
Thanks for sharing this post. I saw your post over at Time Warp Wife’s blog link-up. Have a wonderfully blessed day !
I am so glad that you stopped here & shared. Sometimes The Message says things in such a way it causes me to see things a little differently, which I greatly appreciate. May God continue to work in your life to bless others & bring Him glory!
Joanne, I love the nuggets you pulled out of this passage of scripture. It took my mind back to a time I was really enamored with thoughts of rock vs pebble. Reading your words makes me want to dig out my study notes.
Oops just realize I wasn’t logged in as myself. I’ve been helping Denise get her blog straighten out. Sorry for the confusion.
Too funny Wanda. As always I am glad that you shared. I am grateful the post caused you to think about rocks and pebbles. Hope you share it with all of us.
Love this post, Joanne! Isn’t it amazing when God just won’t let us move on in scripture until we’ve learned what He has for us there. Thank you for the reminder to allow God to quarry me into the person He wants me to be for His glory. And thanks for linking up to Testimony Tuesday!
Thinking today on being quarried made me realize how differently God works in each of our lives – He prunes as a Gardener, shapes as a Potter and chisels as a quarry mason. He is so persistent to work in our lives. Just amazing. It is always a pleasure to join you each Tuesday!
Great insights. The concept of rocks being mined produced a vivid image for me. My grandfather used a heavy drill mining for copper in Michigan. The realization that God is working on us as living stones for his church is deep and inspiring. Thank-you!
I’m here from Unite.
So glad that the analogy was meaningful to you. And thank you for sharing here with me!
Hi Joanne, I so enjoyed reading your post, thank You. It always makes me stand still when I consider the truth that we are living stones, amazing isn’t it. I too want to allow God to continue to mould me for His purposes.
Thank you, Anita. The desire of my heart, truly, is for God to continue to mold me, no matter what it takes. Am always grateful for your visits!
I ask myself that same question…(maybe not in the same way) but am I truly living out my life as a Christ follower? Great post my friend. I’m sorry I haven’t been by as frequently. I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed. I’m JOY-filled with lots of good stuff going in but just super busy. I miss your words.
Much love,
Beth
Beth, no need to ever apologize. I am so glad for the opportunities you have been offered. God is filling your life at this time while Scott is away. Stay joy-filled!! May He continue to work out His purposes in & through your life.
Love,
Joanne
Thank you for your beautiful story about stones shared with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” I am reminded of the sculpture who will look at a large rock and invision the completed art that he plans to chip away until it is perfected.
Hazel, how very true! The sculptor keeps working to achieve the goal of beauty & perfection. Beautiful thought & I am so glad that you shared it! Blessings!!
I’ve never thought of our hearts, lives, being quarried for a purpose. That word, quarried struck me as true and poetic, which is how my brain works. Yes, this makes perfect sense.
I am so glad that it made sense. It was a word that truly struck me as I read the passage of Scripture that day. Thank you for visiting me š