Day 31: Authentic Community
Wednesday
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
As every brick or stone contributes to the integrity of a home, so every living stone serves to support the sacred structure of the church. Pride will cause a stone to stand alone as a monument unto itself. But God’s chosen and precious Stone—Jesus Christ—invites us, instead, to build our lives upon His unshakable foundation and to assume our place in His Holy House.
- How has God used you to build up the church?
- What are some ways you’ve undermined the “structural integrity” of the church in the past? [Think about ways you’ve mistreated both the Cornerstone and other living stones.]
- What is something that you will do today to support the integrity and shared life of the church?
Lord, thank you for imparting life to me and to the other stones that form this spiritual house. Thank you for founding us upon the solid rock that is Jesus and for entrusting to us this collective sacred calling. Please help me to employ my gifts, my time, my money, and my words to edify your church. For Christ’s sake, Amen.