Who You Are In God’s Eyes

1 Peter 2:2-10

Who You Are in God’s Eyes

Happy Mother’s Day, church! If you are able to join us for our 11:00 Zoom call today (that is, Sunday), mothers, we’d like you to show us a picture of you and your kids, maybe when they were young, if you have one handy. Mothers often are the glue that holds the family together. Traditionally, they tend to be home more with the kids, at least in the early years. I know there are exceptions. My point is, they perform such a vital role in the formation of character during those first years of life.

Consider a different family image: the family of God. The Apostle Peter wrote today’s scripture as part of a longer letter to believers about 30 years after Jesus ascended back to heaven. Peter wrote about several subjects; yet, here he focuses on what it means to be a Christian believer.

Listen to 1 Peter 2:2-10, and see if you can identify several images—several illustrations—of what it means to be a believer in Christ.

1 Peter 2:2-10

2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—5 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. 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in him

will never be put to shame.”

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

This is the word of the Lord. (Thanks be to God.)

Peter gives us some illustrations here of what it means to be people of God. Why does it matter? You need to know who you are, especially in trying times like these. When you’re in the middle of a storm, you need something to hang onto. When everything else is changing, your identity as a follower of Christ is locked into place. Some let’s look at some of these images of a Christian together, along with their implications for us.

First, Peter gives a little nod to Mother’s Day as he describes a believer as a...

1. Newborn baby - crave growth

A mother’s primary role after birth is to nurture her babies. In verses 2 and 3, Peter writes,

2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Elsewhere, the Apostle Paul would write that some of his church were on milk for too long and were more than ready to move onto more solid foods. But that’s not Peter’s point here. Peter is saying, “Crave what you need to grow!” Healthy babies grow. And healthy Christians grow. Don’t stay the same person you were when you first became a Christian. Seek growth opportunities. Read a Bible verse. Set aside time to pray. Listen to a new Christian song, or find a Christian radio station. Watch a new preacher on TV (but be careful that their teaching lines up with scripture!). Seek an accountability partner, a brother or sister of the faith who has permission to tell you if they think you are drifting away from God. Pick up an “Our Daily Bread” devotional booklet. Try a new way to serve God by serving others. You get the idea. Don’t be content with who you were 40 years ago when you became a believer. Take a step forward! Crave growth like a baby craves milk.

Another image Peter gives is that of a...

2. Living stone - find connection

Stones are tough. They represent strength, permanence. Peter’s very name means “rock.” When Jesus renamed him from Simon to Peter, he wasn’t much of a rock of faith, but he grew into the name over time. It’s a good thing Jesus sees our potential! Listen to verses 4 and 5. Peter writes,