Let It Be

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and

precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to

be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus

Christ.”

1 Peter 2:4-5 NIV

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with

God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the

apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the

whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And

in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by

his Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV

As you read these verses, you might notice that both Peter and Paul reference the

fact that you and I, as Christ followers, are part of something much bigger than

ourselves. We are living stones being joined together by Christ. We have been

brought together for a purpose. Part of that coming together involves worship and

Peter states clearly that as we worship, we are fulfilling the role of priests and he

introduces the idea of the priesthood of the believer. You and I don’t need someone

to present us to the Father or to pray for us so that our sins might be forgiven. In

Jesus we have gained access to God the Father and can boldly approach the Throne

of Grace. In realizing this we are exhorted to worship with thanksgiving and praise. I

received a note from my mother recently which said “Sometimes emotions take you

places you don’t want to go. Hesitate, Think, and Pray. Life and sorrow don’t

match.” She ended her note with Psalm 13:5-6 –

“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation, I will sing to

the Lord, for He has been good to me.”

Paul and Peter also describe our community as a Spiritual house, a dwelling in which

God lives by His Spirit. This suggests to me that we, individually and collectively,

are a place of peace and sanctuary and can be a comfort to the troubled souls all

around us. What happens when you walk into the room? Are you an ambassador of

peace or drama? Yield to peace. Claim your inheritance. Embrace His in failing love.

LET IT BE

Pastor Brian