⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
1 Peter 2:4-5, “4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Here is his message to this suffering group of believers; God is true to His promises and Jesus is the fulfillment of all that the Prophets spoke of, therefore be strengthened.
Jesus is the living stone rejected by men and not only is He the Savior of God’s elect, but He is her example. In our passage today, we need to know that Peter is commending perseverance.
To suffer for our faith and to suffer in our bodies is to be like our Savior. Peter calls Jesus “living stone” and His church, “like living stones”.
Jesus, our chief stone endured immense suffering as He was persecuted, rejected, abandoned, and crucified. Our God knows suffering. He doesn’t just know about suffering. He knows suffering experientially.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Peter (like the author of Hebrews) is saying that Jesus suffered and endured therefore we can suffer and endure. The same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus bodily and eternally from the dead lives inside every believer, animating that believer and persevering that believer through life’s challenges.
Believer, your suffering may not look anything like the suffering of the 1st century church, but be encouraged that you have a Savior who can sympathize with you. You have a Savior that endured the cross. You have a Savior that is your example.
And your suffering is not purposeless. Peter says in our text today that the Lord is using your sufferings and struggles to build you up and sanctify you.
So be encouraged by the living stone, our chief stone- Jesus. Trust in Him. Rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30). And endure as He endured.
Joey Tomlinson (DMin, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a husband, father, and pastor at a local church in Newport News, Virginia. He blogs regularly on broadoakpiety.org and hosts a weekly podcast called The Broad Oak Piety Podcast with another local pastor in the community.
