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We Are Precious Stones In The Eyes Of God
Contributed by Ronnie Miller on Jul 31, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: Peter says, that Jesus is a living stone rejected by men But, chosen by God and precious. He also says that we are living stones…so we are precious to God also
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We Are Precious Stones In The Eyes Of God.
1 Peter 2: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Peter was written at a time when it was dangerous to declare one’s faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Christianity had been outlawed, and Nero was doing all he could to stop Christianity.
Believers had begun to suffer religious persecution, and the persecution would not soon end. This Letter was written to prepare them for the persecution to come, and to encourage them and give them hope in the midst of it all and let them know that what God has in store for us all one day.
Christians are going to be persecuted more and more even before the Rapture so it's not going to get better if you stand up for Christ and try to live the life He had in mind for the saved. It's going to get worse, much worse. So, we still need encouragement and hope and reminded of what God has in store for the saved….so these writings of Peters like all Scripture is still in effect today..
Peter says, that Jesus is a living stone rejected by men But, chosen by God and precious. He also says that we are living stones…so we are precious to God also
We are precious to God because of what Jesus has done for us
If we are precious to God and he calls us a living stone so, we must be a precious stone…
What is an example of a precious stone? A Diamond is the one that comes to mind.
It came from the darkest part of this world, just like me… A Diamond starts out just a chuck of coal, not worth much of anything.
But God saw something different. God saw something different in each of His children. He saw us….the Bible says before the foundations of the world….even before there was coal in the ground. Even before there was ground.
God saw something precious in each one of the ones that accept Jesus as their Saviour.
God sees the finished product…because our God is the first, the last ..there is no other.
The day we ask Jesus into our heart…a miracle happened…even more of a miracle than a chuck of coal turning into a Diamond over time.
We became a stone in the spiritual house a holy priesthood acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. A living stone that will never die again. A living stone that rest upon a corner stone by the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. There is none greater.
No matter how righteous we think we are , we can never be good enough to come into the presents of God without Jesus Christ our Lord. The Bible says in:
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
But, Peter said in 1Peter 2:5 acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
When we accept Jesus into our life, we become a precious stone in the eyes of God
It’s nothing that we did, it's all what Jesus did for us.
How does something like a piece of coal that is only worth a few cents become a Diamond and become valuable? What does it take to make a piece of coal into something that becomes precious and has its own identity?
Experts says that there is no 2 Diamonds alike. All have their own identity. How does that happen? It takes pressure and chipping away at its deformities.
As God applies the pressure the stone starts to take on a transformation. And when its chosen as a Diamond it goes to the stone masters hands to chip away the rough edges until it becomes a precious stone called a Diamond.
Bible says in:Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
God does the same with us, to those who belong to Christ those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life.
He chips away at our iniquities and flaws by way of trails and troubles.
Peter says in
1pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.