Living Stones
Upon what or whom is our faith based? This is perhaps the most important determinant in our lives. Nothing governs our behavior more than this. The Apostle Peter wrote:
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner”,and
“A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall.”They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (1 Peter 2:4-8)
The religious leaders of Judaism had rejected the very foundation of their faith. Even when they saw this stone and how people were healed and delivered by faith in this stone, they rejected the stone. They rejected the Lord of life and embraced a lie that they were in charge of life.
How badly did they stumble? They rejected the one who stood on the stone, towering high above them:
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died. (Acts 7:55-60)
Stephen, the first martyr of the faith was full of the Holy Spirit. The rulers were very jealous of him. He was still able to forgive them. The psalmist captured his heart:
Into your hands I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.Make your face to shine upon your servant,
and in your loving-kindness save me.” (Psalm 31:5, 15-16)
Into your hands I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.Make your face to shine upon your servant,
and in your loving-kindness save me.” (Psalm 31:5, 15-16)
Stephen was able to stand up for the faith under false accusations and threats of his life. He stood upon the rock that was higher than himself. This was not a dead rock, but a living stone. This stone had been raised from the dead. It proved to be indestructible. What are we standing on today? Are we ready for any persecution that may come our way?
The Apostle Philip had seen this very living stone of God but did not recognize him. Jesus had to explain that this stone was none other than God of all.
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:8-14)
Dead stones do not crush living stones. Stephen did the mighty works of God. God calls each one of us, who are just ordinary people, to do extraordinary things. Are we willing? like Stephen, to step into our positions in Christ, to complete his body on the earth today, until he comes again? The Apostle Paul wrote:
We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16)
As living stones, let us be built into a spiritual house, where Jesus is the cornerstone. Then we will be unshakeable, as was Stephen, in our stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Preaching the Lectionary 