Living stones
by Faye Schmidt
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You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5a).
Read 1 Peter 2:1–10
There are many references to stones in Scripture. For example, Jesus being tempted to turn stones into bread, Stephen being stoned to death, and Jesus stating that the temple will fall and not a single stone will be left standing.
We think of a stone as useful, particularly when building something. Scripture also refers to Jesus as the cornerstone – the stone from which all others are measured.
So, the one thing we know about stones is that they are inanimate – they have no life. Yet we are called to be living stones. But stones we are, on our own and without the power of the Holy Spirit, inanimate and subject to use by others for a variety of purposes.
As a ‘living’ stone, we have had the Spirit of God breathed into us. We are no longer inanimate but of value to God to be a witness to him and his grace.
But we don’t do this alone. For the living stones to thrive, they need to be connected to other stones, building a house – a church formed of those brothers and sisters who turned from stone to life.
Our text refers to us forming a holy priesthood. This is a collective. It recognises the togetherness of believers as we offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus. A single stone on its own has no clear identity or purpose. But when gathered, connected and built upon, we not only have a defined identity, but that identity reflects our purpose.
The church at which I worship is made of stone. It is a beautiful building. But the true beauty is inside, where I gather with fellow living stones that have been built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood. Praise God.
Heavenly Father, you have gifted me to be a living stone, a member of a holy priesthood. I pray that the sacrifices of my heart and the works of my hands be acceptable to you through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.
Faye Schmidt continues her diaconal calling through governance, having served on the Vic–Tas District Church Board, the General Church Board and currently as chair of the Standing Committee on Constitutions and her congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Having lived and worked in many locations in Australia and overseas, Faye has a heart for the stranger and the newcomer and for being open to new ideas, learning from others and responding to needs.
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