1 Peter 2:6-10

Pastor Todd summarized this week’s passage as a comparison of two responses to Jesus, the cornerstone. To those who do not believe, Jesus is a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense. As an example of offense, Todd pointed to verse 8. If human beings have the choice to obey or disobey, how can it be true that God destines some to obey and some to disobey? What unbelievers can’t understand becomes an objection and an offense. We believers are tempted to counter every objection with an explanation. Maybe we want to appear smart and knowledgeable. (That’s ego disguised as piety.) Maybe we think that the questioner’s eternal destiny hangs on our answer. (It doesn’t.) Ask the Lord to give us the humility to admit, “I can’t explain it. If my puny mind could understand everything about God, he would not be a God worth worshiping.” Give us the humility of Job, who says when speaking of God’s works observable in creation, “These are but the fringes of His ways …” (Job 26:14)

In contrast to those who stumble over the cornerstone, the apostle Peter describes us believers as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own possession. Those are the kinds of phrases we can glibly skate over as we read the Bible. Take time this week to let them soak in. As you meditate on these descriptions of believers, ask the Lord to show you what they mean in your everyday life.

Peter says our purpose in life is to proclaim God’s excellencies. Todd taught that we start by proclaiming God’s excellencies back to Him in praise, especially in the assembly of believers. What a motivation to be in your seat before the countdown to the worship service gets to zero! The songs aren’t a prelude to the sermon; they are the proclamation of God’s excellencies. Ask God to show you how to proclaim His excellencies, one-on-one, to a fellow believer who is struggling with worry or anger or doubt. Also ask Him for opportunities to proclaim His excellencies to people in your sphere of influence who don’t know Him. Lord, make us so convinced, so passionate, so thankful that we share Your excellencies exuberantly (to use Todd’s inspiring word).

Calvary Family

Pray for good and godly fellowship among the men of Calvary at the Men’s Breakfast on Saturday morning. Pray for the team preparing and serving the food and for the speaker, Mike Gleim.

Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means preparing for gatherings of extended family. Make prayer for unbelievers in your family part of your preparations. I’ll be praying for our son Neil, who now calls himself an agnostic, and his girlfriend, who comes from a completely secular background. Lord, may we let our beliefs and our love for You show in a natural, unforced way. Help us speak of Your excellencies winsomely.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert 

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