Missing Those Lively Stones

I hope that everyone is safe and warm. I really miss my church family when church is cancelled. It makes me appreciate the time we set aside each week to gather as a living testimony to the presence of God. It serves as a regular reminder of the Lord's graciousness to us and an opportunity to grow as we are feed from the word of God. The apostle Peter said:

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 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." (I Peter 2:1-5)

It is a humbling thought to know that our meager, imperfect attempts at serving God are "acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." Yet another exaltation of the perfect, finished, and unassailable work of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of his people. We are not accepted for our works or exercise of faith; we are accepted because He has made us to be.

"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:6)

Astonishingly wonderful.

- Elder Daniel Samons