I Peter 2:4-10 (NRSV)
Read I Peter 2:4-10 on biblegateway.com
Verse 4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and Verse 5like 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. Verse 6For 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." Verse 7To 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," Verse 8and "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. Verse 9But 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 marvelous light. Verse 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Devotion
I was recently offered a complimentary shoe shine in a hotel. While the man was polishing my shoes, I asked if he was happy about Barack Obama’s election. He said, “In 60 years of my life I voted for the first time.” I asked why. “Because I had no one to trust,” he answered. “Now I can trust him and I have hope!” Trust in a person may bring change to some extent, but trust in God brings total change, complete transformation and a true new life. Peter reminds us that when we trust in Christ, the living stone, we are led from darkness into light; from no people to God’s people through God’s mercy. “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” (I Peter 2:10).
Prayer
God, help us be a holy priesthood and offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to you through Jesus Christ. Amen.