Living Stones
"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5 (NKJ)).
God the Father had called true Christians to His family and promised to give them the coming kingdom. Presently, He is calling and choosing only a few to help His Son, Jesus Christ when He returns to establish His kingdom. This calling also requires our total and unconditional surrender to His will. Some of us even needed to be brought to submission by various trials and difficulties. Our former way of life may have been so alien to God's way that He gave us a kind of >road to Damascus' experience, just like the apostle Paul. Compared to the perfect character of the Father, we are like a "burned out hunk of junk," as the late Herbert W. Armstrong used to say.
The question then is, how do we go about surrendering unconditionally to God's will? What does He actually require us to do? Where in the Bible can we search for answers?
We know that the Bible is complete for salvation as this is God's instruction manual given to man. The apostle Peter recognized the sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ had done as the original Living Stone said, "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious," (1 Peter 2:4). The original Living Stone gave all, His broken body for our healing, His blood for our protection and atonement and salvation.
This is where we can find the best answer on how to totally and unconditionally surrender to God's will, Christ's example as a living sacrifice. The apostle Paul also explained in the book of Romans that it is necessary to offer our bodies as Christ did, as living sacrifices, AI beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1).
Just like the ancient Israelites who offered up daily animal sacrifices to God, we need to present ourselves as daily spiritual sacrifices. Easier said than done, what does it mean and how do we perform this spiritual task?
We need the attitude of a Spiritual Sacrifice. King David, a man after God's own heart, knew what was needed. He had fallen into the trap of committing adultery with Bathsheba, the beautiful wife of Uriah. God was angry with David and caused the death of his first child. Through the prophet Nathan, David was brought to a state of remorse for his ungodly actions. David said, "the sacrifices of God are a broken [shattered or humbled] spirit, a broken and contrite [bruised or remorseful] heart" (Psalm 51:6-17). A humble and submissive attitude is very important to our Father. He cannot work with us fully until we adopt this approach to our calling. It puts us in a position of really listening to God's instruction and being willing to act on them.
As Christians we have to change our behavior by conforming to God's will through the guidance of His indwelling Holy Spirit. No longer should we blindly follow the selfish tendencies of our carnal nature, but instead listen to that "still small voice" of godly wisdom. Once again the apostle Paul comes to our rescue with his insights into the whole issue. "....put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind." He then provides a list of contrasts between Godly and carnal actions. For example, he tells us to "put(ting) away lying, let each of you speak truth with his neighbor,"and to "be angry and not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:22-27). In verse 27 he says, "let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification [building up] that it may impart grace to the hearers."
More information is given in the book of Hebrews where we are encouraged to "continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15). This is best done in our
daily prayers where a vital ingredient is to praise our Father for multiple blessings. It continues, "obey them that have
the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls [lives]" (verse 17). Here we are admonished to
respect the ministry and submit to their guidance.
By this time we have already understood our calling and our obligation. As members of the true church of God, we are indeed very few but God always work with the few as He had given Jesus Christ only twelve disciples to start with. It is very interesting to know that we are, like Jesus Christ, called Living Stones, "You also, as living stone are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
God is building a spiritual temple and we are to be part of that temple as living stones, with Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone, the original Living Stone. Peter continues, "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believe on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the Corner, and a Stone of Stumbling, and a Rock of Offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient"(1 Peter 2:6-8). Many churches of God should stop and consider deeply what God is saying in these three verses especially the last ten words.
We are surrendering to God this "hunk of junk" of ours in total and unconditional surrender. Instead of handing over a physical ceremonial sword as the Japanese had done to General Douglas MacArthur, we are commanded to wield "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). Our total and unconditional surrender to God the Father does not involve abject humiliation but a humble submission to His benevolent will. Being living stones and living sacrifices is the best deal we have ever been offered because it results in eternal life. As living stones and living sacrifices we are destined to become a "royal priesthood" in God's kingdom (1 Peter 2:5,9).
Sotero Sonza
The mount of olives as seen from Jerusalem ( Garden of Gethsemane ), the name means
"oil press" and suggests that the Garden was
a grove on olive trees with an olive press.
Jesus Christ prayed at Gethsemane before His crucifiction.
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