1 Peter 2:2-10 (NRSV)
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 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. 6 For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,”8 and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Devotional
Life is about growth, and so is salvation. We often think of salvation as a static possession—something to be given or something to be discarded. But salvation is a dynamic phenomenon, which has life in relationship with Christ. As our relationship with Christ develops, our salvation flourishes, which unleashes deeper understanding of who we are in Christ, the fullness of what we have been saved from, and the conviction of what we have been saved for. Peter tells us that in Christ we (notice that all the “yous” are plural) are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” But equally, Peter reminds us that we are being “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood.” We are all on a journey of both being and becoming God’s holy people who proclaim God’s mighty acts of love, grace, justice, compassion, and peace to the world around us. So how are you growing in Christ and in salvation today? How are you growing as the body of Christ within your local church community? And how will you proclaiming God’s mighty acts to those who you encounter today?
Prayer
Gracious and loving God, we give you praise for who you are and for what you have done. Lord, we thank you for the opportunity we have to enter into relationship with you and to grow together in this journey of salvation. Help us to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood today. Help us to extend your love to others today that you might be glorified. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Rev Dr Rob Fringer, Principal