Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Christ's Invitation to be an
Expression of Mission
Mathew T. Mathew
Epiphany MTC,
NY
4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and
precious in God’s sight, and 5 like living stones, let yourselves be built into
a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Once may have lived as if we were not God's people but now we live as God's people. This transformation happened through Jesus Christ. As we come to faith in Christ, we are living for God. Looking at the Jerusalem Temple, Jesus said in Mark 13:2, "Not one stone here will be left on another, every one will be thrown down". In AD 70, the temple was destroyed Jesus was talking about the destruction of the man made structure and building a spiritual structure-the Church.
The Old (Jerusalem) Temple and old covenant.
The old temple was built with brick and stones. This temple was used by God's chosen people-descendants of Jacob-the Jewish people. to worship God. They were guided by the old covenant. Only the Levites were to perform priestly duties. The priests offered scrifices on behalf of the people (Numbers 3-4).
The living stone and a chosen people-New covenant.
Jesus has changed the old covenant and salvation is assured to all nations and people who believe in Jesus Christ. The Church is built with believers as living stones and Jesus as the corner stone. Those who accept Jesus and follow Him become precious living stone.
Solomon built the Jerusalem Temple for the Jewish people. God built the new spiritual structure with the living stones and Jesus the corner stone. We all can have fellowship with God. "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" (V.9).
We are all part of the same church-each one is a living stone-Jesus the corner tone. All have to wok together 24/7, not only on Sundays. In other words, we should be functional Christians. Then only we will be living stones. If not, we will be part of the structure as an ornament without any function.
Christ's sacrifice once for all (Hebrews 10)
Jesus Christ has offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of all humanity once and for all. With his ultimate sacrifice, he established a new covenant. We have to offer ourselves as sacrifice of praise, and worship.
Paul says in Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sister, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Our mission is to offer our lives as living sacrifice for Jesus. We have to support each other,serve others and worship.
Ephesians 4:15-16 says, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work". So it is our mission to be faithful followers of Christ, be a living stone and have Jesus as our corner stone.
Once may have lived as if we were not God's people but now we live as God's people. This transformation happened through Jesus Christ. As we come to faith in Christ, we are living for God. Looking at the Jerusalem Temple, Jesus said in Mark 13:2, "Not one stone here will be left on another, every one will be thrown down". In AD 70, the temple was destroyed Jesus was talking about the destruction of the man made structure and building a spiritual structure-the Church.
The Old (Jerusalem) Temple and old covenant.
The old temple was built with brick and stones. This temple was used by God's chosen people-descendants of Jacob-the Jewish people. to worship God. They were guided by the old covenant. Only the Levites were to perform priestly duties. The priests offered scrifices on behalf of the people (Numbers 3-4).
The living stone and a chosen people-New covenant.
Jesus has changed the old covenant and salvation is assured to all nations and people who believe in Jesus Christ. The Church is built with believers as living stones and Jesus as the corner stone. Those who accept Jesus and follow Him become precious living stone.
Solomon built the Jerusalem Temple for the Jewish people. God built the new spiritual structure with the living stones and Jesus the corner stone. We all can have fellowship with God. "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" (V.9).
We are all part of the same church-each one is a living stone-Jesus the corner tone. All have to wok together 24/7, not only on Sundays. In other words, we should be functional Christians. Then only we will be living stones. If not, we will be part of the structure as an ornament without any function.
Christ's sacrifice once for all (Hebrews 10)
Jesus Christ has offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of all humanity once and for all. With his ultimate sacrifice, he established a new covenant. We have to offer ourselves as sacrifice of praise, and worship.
Paul says in Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sister, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Our mission is to offer our lives as living sacrifice for Jesus. We have to support each other,serve others and worship.
Ephesians 4:15-16 says, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work". So it is our mission to be faithful followers of Christ, be a living stone and have Jesus as our corner stone.
PRAYER
Our heavenly father,
help us to be a living stone, offer ourselves as a living sacrifice of praise
and worship for Jesus. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Christ lived to intercede for us and we have the sure hope of eternal life.
Christ lived to intercede for us and we have the sure hope of eternal life.