Sunday 1, April 2012
Bible Passage(s): 1 Peter 2: 4 – 10
Memory Verse: “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2: 4-5
These are not the best of times for a child of God! Our world today makes it most difficult for a Christian to live a life that is worthy of his or her confession! There are many pitfalls on the way!
The pertinent question for the committed Christian is ‘how does one keep himself untainted from the world?’ In a bid to answer to this question, Apostle Peter, as quoted in the memory verse, admonishes us to “come to Jesus as a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious”- 1 Peter 2:4. Our life as Christians will certainly put the people of the world on edge and they will reject us and reject our ways. This is because our lives points them out as sore thumbs and they will oppose us and do all they can to make us stumble and fall. We therefore need to accede to Peter’s admonition. Jesus Christ our Lord is our model of a living stone. As opposed to the dead stones of idols, He is alive and well and He responds to us and wants us to be holy as He is Holy.
In April, we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. By His death, Jesus reconciled us to God His father, and we become living stones; part of His spiritual house. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on the cross at Calvary to earn for us forgiveness and remission of our sins. As such, if we continue in sin we make His death of no effect. But if we surrender our lives to follow Him as a model of righteousness, we become the chosen of the Lord and precious too. Therefore as a house is built with stones, we become living stones and are qualified to be part of the spiritual house of God; a spiritual order or movement of holy men and women. The purpose of which is for us to continuously offer spiritual sacrifice that is acceptable to God through our Saviour Jesus Christ. What a great privilege it is for us to be found worthy to be part of this great movement.
However if you have not yielded their life to Jesus Christ, you do not qualify to be part of this movement. So if you are not really sure that you are for Him, you risk damnation because by your unbelief, you make the death of Jesus on the cross of no effect. You leave yourself open to the vagaries and dangers of inherent in these times. Eternity to you is not certain!
I therefore invite you to come into the company of the beloved and surrender you life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Don’t deceive yourself saying you are not a sinner. The Bible tells us that ‘all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God’. But ‘as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God’ – John 1:12 – 13. So I invite you to receive Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came into the world to die for your sins. And your life will take on a new meaning. To do this, say this prayer quietly and sincerely in your heart: “Heavenly father thank you for the death of your son Jesus Christ on the cross to save mankind. I believe in Him and therefore confess my sins, please father save me in Jesus name”. Amen. Congratulations you are now born again! Praise the Lord.
Now that you are born again, please locate a Bible believing and Bible teaching church and begin to fellowship with them so that you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Read the Bible everyday and you will grow in Him.
The Lord bless and keep you. May He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace, now and forevermore. Amen.
Have a grace filled month.