Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“ The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and
“ A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.--1 Peter 2:4-10
To My Daughters...
Christ is so central in these verses. He is that living stone with the power of an endless life. He is rejected by men who have no room for Him in their lives...no room for their Creator and their Redeemer and their friend. God chose Him though...He is precious...whether man chooses to think so or not.
When I believed, I became a living stone, rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious. He is building me a spiritual house, a royal priesthood...I am a royal priestess and am to offer up spiritual sacrifices to Him which are acceptable through my belief in His Son, Jesus Christ.
All the special privileges that the Jewish nation once knew as the chosen instrument of God are mine. I am His special treasure now.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
I (ME!) am His special treasure. What a beautiful thought...what a beautiful reality for a believer. I stand in His righteousness....unashamed. I look to Him and I am radiant. His love is shed abroad in my heart. As a believer, I have His mind and can see with His spiritual eyes. Because He died, I can live forever with Him.
With such great privileges, however, come great responsibility. He called me out of darkness and into His marvelous light. I am His daughter and have obtained His mercy and grace in abundance. The Jews once had this privilege, but did not live up to the responsibility. They did not bring forth the fruit the Father desired. We, the church, have this responsibility now. We are His special people and are to proclaim His promises to all.
Is God through with the Jews? Definitely not! They are still His chosen people. Read on..here comes more of God's grace and His unsearchable ways. The Jewish rejection of their Messiah meant the Gentiles salvation. Romans 11:11 says this: "I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles." So today the saved Gentiles provoke Israel “to jealousy” because of the spiritual riches they have in Christ. Read Romans 10: 19-21 and see God's grace to the entire world.
"But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
“ I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,
I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:
“ I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But to Israel he says:
“ All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”
I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:
“ I was found by those who did not seek Me;
I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But to Israel he says:
“ All day long I have stretched out My hands
To a disobedient and contrary people.”
He is faithful to keep His word and to accomplish its purpose both in Israel and the whole world. In fact, in Israel's rejection, He kept His word to the Gentiles and will use the Gentiles to keep His word to Israel. Truly we serve an amazing God!! Proclaim His praises!!! Speak of His excellencies!
Love
Mom
