YOUR THURSDAY MORNING DEVOTION!

A PRECIOUS STONE

by Carla McDougall

Read 1 Peter 2:4-10

What does the phrase A Precious Stone mean? Possibly these words come to mind... expensive, rare, valuable, prized, dear, shiny, valued. These descriptions may explain today's meaning of a precious stone, but is this what God meant in 1 Peter 2:4-10 (NKJV)? Look forward to some exciting discoveries today!

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.

Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame. (Is.28:16)

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious, but to those who are disobedient... The stone which the builders rejected has become thechief cornerstone (Ps.118:22) and a stone stumbling and a rock of offense. (Is. 8:14) They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

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; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

Let's do a little review. In our last lesson, 1 Peter 2:1-5, Peter focused our attention on believers being living stones just as Jesus is the living stone. Our strength comes from Him, not of ourselves. To refresh your memory, look at the last post... Living Stones. 

As Peter continues in 1 Peter 2:6-10, he shifts the reader's attention to Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 8:14. Why? For a variety of reasons. 

First, Peter reminds the reader of Isaiah and the Psalmist prophecy. His audience knew the scriptures, and Peter clearly points out that Jesus is the fulfillment to this prophecy. I love how everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus as the true Messiah! 

Secondly, the OT scriptures refer to the Chief Cornerstone. Peter points to Jesus as the chief cornerstone. It is vital to grasp this tangible spiritual life lesson. In ancient construction, the cornerstone was the first stone placed in the building's foundation. All the other stones were aligned to the chief cornerstone. Without the proper placement of this stone, the building could be unstable, shift, and over time, crumble to the ground. 

The same is true in our spiritual walk. Building our lives on Jesus gives us a firm spiritual foundation... one that won't crumble when the wind blows, the earth shakes, or the storms rage. Jesus is the only one who brings stability to a person, family or nation.

Finally, focus on the word Precious. Notice it is used three times in 1 Peter 2:4-10. All these uses have one common denominator... Jesus is precious. When I looked up the word precious in the Greek (www.blueletterbible.org) my mouth dropped open and my heart leaped. Are you ready for this?  

Precious means a valuing by which the price is fixed, of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold. 

Oh my goodness, think about the difference between the Greek meaning and today's definition of precious. Jesus, the precious chief cornerstone, brings true salvation to a lost world. He paid the price. It's fixed... non-negotiable. God's gift of salvation came through the exchange the person of Jesus Christ bought and sold with His blood. Tears flow just writing these words. And, by the way, how many times Peter denied Jesus? Three times. This sure gives us something to think about!