Christian Living

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1 Peter 2:4-5 says

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.

Around 8 or so years ago I was in a prayer meeting and we all sat before the Lord and listened and I saw a vision in my imagination.

I was standing near the throne, which was at the top of a hill, and I turned towards the multitude of people and declared, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a polished stone.”

I understood what it meant when I said it. Polished stones go through a process called Tumble Finishing. This is where many stones (believers) are put inside a barrel (church) with a lubricant (Holy Spirit) and grit (aggravating things) and as the stones inside the barrel gets tumbled around (life and correction) and they rub together and the grit removes the rough edges while the lubricant prevent too much rubbing. I guess I could say as stones polish stones instead of iron sharpening iron in this aspect.

I’m also picturing a stream coming from a mountain and as stone make it into the river they get carried and bounce and follow the stream till they are smooth and find their place on the riverbed. Have you felt out of place? Do you seem to just follow where the river goes and never seem to fit in? It could be either you are still in the smoothing process or just haven’t found your designated spot yet. Be content in the river. Be content in the process. Be content and know your place won’t be filled unless you reject the process to get there.

Living stones. Interesting term isn’t it? No wonder why God says the latter Glory will be greater than the former (see Haggai 2:9). The temple used to be a stationary building which people have to travel to worship at (see John 4:21-24). Now the temple has come to you…if you stay in proper fellowship. We are the temple and are becoming the Temple. There are many lone rangers these days…and I understand why. Some have been hurt, others need more, and still others think they are better than the church (see Luke 18:11). I, for one, love the Church for without the church I would have been subject to every wave of deceit the world has to offer. A drifting stone, thinking I’ve arrived while in reality I’ve never left. I know of online churches, which I’m not against, that become a safe place for those hurt by church, which I also am not against, but a computer screen can never take the place of a brother and sister in fellowship with one another face to face. Some even become Christian hermits receiving their own revelation outside of relationship with the rest of the Body. Contemplating your hand will never teach you to walk and it won’t reveal that you have feet. 1 Corinthians 12:21-25 says

And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

Without a corporate man the Head has no place to rest. Where one refuses face to face fellowship, one refusing the working of the Holy Spirit in His body. Hebrews 10:25 has a somber warning and it says

Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

Light strengthens by number. One cannot put 10,000 to flight. Living stones as in plural. More than one. Many parts. You wouldn’t expect to build a house with one brick would you? The Lord’s candela or candle power strength must come with unity and not disunity. The building God is building in this hour is from living stones, living together, and preferring one another over themselves. We need to allow the plumb line of God to see where we are in relation to where He is and others are. I am guilty of this and I repent for the way I’ve called some “nominal Christians.” These are my brother and sisters whether I like it or not. Let us not reject these “living stones” which the Builder is not rejecting Himself. Submit to the process of polishing for this is the kingdom of Heaven.

We are living and breathing stones which call out the praises of God and are being fitting together for a Holy Dwelling for the God of the universe to dwell in and we need to submit to the process of being built up where habitation is possible. Habitation is possible only by habitat. Building are only possible by multiple stones being built together.

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