Living Stones

1 Pet. 2:4-5

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 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.

Imagine a dead thing coming to life. Imagine a stone that talks, a stone that is living! Would you pay attention to it? Jesus is described as a living stone, and the believers are also described as living stones. We are to be like Jesus, strong and durable yet warm and kind.

The temple of the old testament had the function of holding God's presence, and also the priests would offer sacrifices and act as mediators between God and man. But that building has been destroyed and church buildings no longer serve these functions. We do not need anyone to connect us to God for we are holy and we are priests.

Our spiritual sacrifices are our good works(Eph. 2:10), and manifested through our obedience to Jesus. We are to speak the truth, love people, support (or be) missionaries, etc.