Royally

1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him..

The homeless man was back at Starbucks again.  As I walked passed him working on his bike he said, “I would open the door for you if I could!”  Next thing I knew he was inside sipping his drink chatting with another customer.

We are often “rejected by men” as this passage says in 1 Peter 2.  Rejection is hard, but being chosen by God exceeds all the rejection we receive in our lifetime.  We are precious to Him, we are worth His sacrifice on the cross and we are His children who don’t deserve anything, but are treated royally. 

I’m sure this homeless man is rejected often by the public.  He seems at home in this Starbucks, comfortable, not like the first time when he stood nervous at the door wanting to wash his hands.  They welcomed him in and chose to treat him royally.

Nothing Left

1 Peter 2: 7-8a Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

“...don’t ever do this again, do you understand?...”  I was all psyched up to “be a Jesus” to her.  I’ve tried so many things to be loving, kind, firm, hard, and extremely hard, all along trying to plant seeds of the knowledge of Jesus while trying to help her succeed in life.  I decided to do something fun and special for her and she did “that” right before we were to leave.  How do I be a Jesus now when angry, and sarcasm seems to be the only thing dripping from my lips.

The bible notes for these verses in 1 Peter say, “…people who refuse to believe in Christ have made the greatest mistake of their lives.  They have stumbled over the one person who could save them and give meaning to their lives…”.   He worked in me that day when I had nothing left.  We went, we had fun, we enjoyed each other.  I don’t know if she will ever see Jesus living in me, but Jesus sees her and I just ask for strength to be all that He needs me to be especially on those days when I have nothing left.

 

Spiritual Sacrifice

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

I always get non-fat hot chocolate at Starbucks.  I can sacrifice a little bit of richness and calories to enjoy my favorite drink. 

“Offer spiritual sacrifices” which means giving things to God for His purpose, it goes on to say “acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.  God is serious about what we offer as “spiritual sacrifices”.   I read in a devotion book by Sarah Young recently “many things people do in My Name have no value in My kingdom”.  I need to rethink what I am doing “in His name”.  Am I doing what I think is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ and it is really in vain?  Do I trump myself thinking I am all good with my “spiritual sacrifices” and it’s more about me than Him?  Is what I’m doing truly a sacrifice?  Staying in constant communication with Him will answer these questions.  He is concerned about us and what we do with every part of our lives.

Hmmmmmm……Is ordering non-fat hot chocolate really a sacrifice?

Living Stone

1 Peter 2:4-5  As you come to Him, the living Stone- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

I talked to one of the workers at Starbucks, that doesn’t seem unusual, but this particular store isn’t always that friendly.  She was very nice, we talked quite a while and I learned she was a Christian, I think she may even be the new assistant manager. 

When I read scripture, certain things pop out, “you also, like living stones”.  We are living stones after the living Stone.  It made me reflect on my life how God has formed me into a living stone, small pebble after small pebble.  I think back on how hard He had to work on me to become the living stone I am today.  Then I wonder how much more He has in store for me.  What’s next?  Only God knows and how exciting and what a comfort that God holds us living stones in His grip, never to throw us down in anger or skip us across the water for fun, He is the loving living Stone serious about His work in us.

Watch out Starbucks store, a Christian is in the house who is a living stone of Jesus Christ!