I love the metaphor that the Apostle Peter uses in his first letter, that each of us are “like living stones”. I have been thinking about this passage a lot recently.  For the believer, we can place our lives on the foundation of Christ, and we are blessed by the intimate and secure relationship we have with him “the living Stone”. God the master builder places his living stones just where he wants us. Each of us are important, unique parts of the whole church, the bride, the beloved! Each of us is in contact with one another, taking the strain together, building something of kingdom beauty:-

 ^“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans 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.” (1 Peter 2:4-5, NIV)

Our job description is to “declare the praises” – we are speakers of praise (v9), declarers of truth, and of love and light. We are alive because Christ is within us, in truth, grace, love, hope and peace. Just like plants we flourish, we grow, we adapt, we bloom, we bear fruit as out roots go deep into the “living Stone”.

I am often humbled by wonderful neighbours, work colleagues, family and friends I have around me. I see them faithfully loving, giving and caring. I notice their integrity, passion and commitment and I am often blessed by their kindness and compassion. They sense Christ and bless others yet do not know him as Saviour. How do I a “living stone” help them to join the community of followers of Jesus? I think the key is this….to notice when I have ceased to be “alive”. So many things can steal life from me – failure and guilt, confusion, the suffering of others, etc. Sometimes I just harden up, or I cut my myself off or I allow a cloud of despair to cover and quell the life in me. I see this in others too! Yet I know the way out, the way back to life. It can take a little while, but I fully understand the grace and love of Christ’s legacy. So, I would like to spur you on to be real, especially with those who are still searching in life. I want those around me to feel safe to reveal their hardships, struggles and anxieties. Only then will they relate to my journey and ultimately to the one I walk with. I need to be a “living stone” so that I drip with grace, pour out the hope of eternity and ooze love and encouragement. Being alive to the Holy Spirit is a daily need and it is what those around me need me to be!

I’d like to invite you to pray with me this simple prayer:-

Lord,

Help me to be a living stone as I faithfully take my place in the building of your Kingdom here on earth.

May I come alive with love and grace, be ever singing your praises

And supporting others in their own walk of faith.

May I drip with grace, pour out the hope of eternity,

And ooze divine love and encouragement. Amen.