“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5; all Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version).

A recent article on this site shared how Christians have been bought with a price. We belong to God. Therefore, we should honor Him with our bodies. (See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.)

Scripture offers several similes and metaphors to describe the Christian’s role in offering sacrifices to God. We belong to God. Peter observed that He is building the church into a spiritual temple. This temple is designed to offer sacrifices to Him. Every Christian is a stone in that temple, and every stone matters.

Over the last couple years, the apartment building in which I live underwent significant refacing. Old bricks were removed, as some were worn or cracked. New bricks replaced them, and the entire exterior of the building was refaced. There was no room for old, jagged, cracked, or damaged bricks.

In the house of God, all believers are stones. Each stone, no matter how insignificant it seems, is part of the building’s beauty. Each stone supports the ones around and above it. God’s house is built on a firm foundation. Jesus Christ is its cornerstone, the first stone around which the entire house is built. The apostles and prophets (and their writings, the Bible) are its foundation, holding up the rest of the building. Each of us contributes to the building’s security, strength, and stability with our faith, worship, and service as we use our spiritual gifts.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

How does being part of a spiritual house affect one’s relationship with Christ?

• We cannot effectively serve Christ solo. Remove a brick from a building, and it is garbage or debris. You cannot live in it. Even if you can find use for it, perhaps as a doorstop or a paperweight, these uses fall short of its intended purpose. Bricks are designed for greater things. Christians are also designed for great things, but we cannot achieve them by ourselves.
• We support one another, and we obtain support from others.
• We rely on the support of the cornerstone and foundation. Our lives are built on Christ, His Church, and His Word.

One of the biggest sacrifices we make in Western culture is when we surrender our rugged individualism to be part of something greater that God is doing. God did not call us to rest alone, but to be part of a great work He is building. We join our talents, time, treasures, efforts, and passions to accomplish His will in our neighborhoods, communities, nation, and throughout the world. He is building a glorious church. What part do you play?

God is building a glorious church and has a place for you. What part do you play? Share your thoughts in the comments field below.

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