Tag: living stones
The Glory returns!
Scripture reading for August 28: Ezekiel 40-43
“Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with His glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell face down. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. The the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.“ Ezekiel 43:1-5
Ezekiel had been taken with the “hand of the Lord” upon him to the city of Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 40:1) It was not quite the “hair-raising” experience of his first trip! (Ezekiel 8:3) This time Ezekiel found a heavenly being with an appearance that glowed like bronze. This man had a linen cord and measuring rod in his hand and told Ezekiel to pay attention and tell the house of Israel everything he saw. This ‘man’ proceeded to measure everything in the temple and surrounding area, showing Ezekiel that the temple had been precisely rebuilt.
It was after this measuring job that Ezekiel beheld his vision of a returning Glory! He saw the cloud of glowing Glory coming from the east! The land was radiant with the glowing fire, and the Lord’s voice was like roaring waters! He saw the glory of the Lord enter the temple where it had departed, through the east gate! Suddenly, Ezekiel found himself inside the temple and it was filled with Glory! (Ezekiel 43:3-5)
From inside the temple, a Voice spoke to him. “Son of Man, this is the place of My throne and the place for My feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.” (Ezekiel 43:7) Ezekiel was told that he was to describe the temple to the Israelites and that as they considered the plan, if they would be ashamed of all their sins, God would reveal His design of the temple to them! (Ezekiel 43:10-11)
Today, this beautiful restored temple is currently composed of living stones. God’s glory fills each stone as they look to Jesus Christ, Who baptizes them in His Holy Spirit! They now know Him and His laws are written on their hearts and God has forgiven them their sins and remembers them no more. (Ezekiel 36:24-27) (Jeremiah 31:31-34) We will behold His glory from within the heavenly city forever and ever!
Sunday rest and reflection-a house for God.
Greetings on this day of rest! May the peace of Jesus Christ fill your heart today as you rest in His love and kindness!
As I stopped to ponder the reading of this past week, I thought of King David’s desire to build a house for the Lord. (2nd Samuel 7:1) This is one of the most important conversations found in the Old Testament pointing to Jesus Christ. King David had rest from his battles and had built himself a palace of cedar. He realized that God was living in a tent and wanted something better for God. He shared his desire with Nathan the Prophet who encouraged him to do whatever was on his heart.(2nd Samuel 7:3)
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart”. (Psalms 37:4) David was a man who delighted himself in the Lord. As he put his faith and trust in God, God gave him desires that flowed from His heart! God did want to build a house for Himself. The house God desired was not made of wood or stone or overlaid with silver and gold. The house that the Lord wanted built would have to come from the most precious of materials: His own Son’s Blood and Body! David was granted grace to become a part of God’s greater plan to build the ultimate house–a people from every tribe, tongue and nation who would believe on Him!
As you gather today to worship the Lord with others of like precious faith, remember that you are the living stones of that House for the Lord! (1st Peter 2:4-10) You are a royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices to the One who gave His own son as the foundation–God your Father! Delight yourself in Him today, and He will surely give you the desires of your heart!
The Cornerstone!
Scripture reading for November 10th: 1st Peter 2
As Peter, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote to persecuted and suffering Jewish Christians, he encouraged them with language that would speak to them from their heritage. He used the prophet Isaiah and the Psalms to paint a word picture that showed them God’s plan and their identity and purpose!
“As you come to Him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him–you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious Cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” (1 Peter 2:4-6)(Isaiah 28:16)
God had given the nation of Israel a pattern for the temple. This temple was a shadow of the new “Temple” that He would build using “living stones”. The temple had a “cornerstone” that began the foundation of the building, insuring it was solid and true, horizontally and vertically. Jesus Christ was the “living Stone” of the spiritual “house” that God was building. He was rejected by men, specifically the Jews. However, He was precious to God, as His only and First-born Son. He, alone is the Cornerstone that is firm, straight, and true! All who trust in Him become “living stones” laid on the cornerstone. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1st Peter 2:9) What encouraging words bringing identity and purpose to those suffering persecution!
The living stones!
Scripture reading for November 23rd: 1st Peter 1:13-2:12
Peter’s name meant ‘rock’ or ‘stone’. Peter was told by Jesus after he confessed Him as the Christ, Son of the Living God, that on “this rock I will build My Church.” (Matthew 16:18) Jesus as the Son of the Living God was the “Living Stone” that was the cornerstone of the new temple of the new covenant. In today’s reading from Peter’s epistle, we have further insight on this new temple.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” (1st Peter 1:13-15) Peter reminded these believers that they had been born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1st Peter 1:3) This new birth was a gift of grace from God but would bring about changes in thinking and actions. God called His children to obedience and conformity to His will and purposes. Foremost is the requirement of holiness. Holiness is the perfect character of God worked out in our thinking and lives.
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1st Peter 1:22-23) This new birth comes through the Living God’s living Word. The word for ‘seed’ is the Greek word for ‘sperm’! His word in us bring His life and character into us!
“As you come to Him, the Living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him–you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1st Peter 2:4-5) The ‘Living Stone, ‘ Jesus Christ is also the ‘Living Word’. When we are born again, we become ‘living stones’ that God is using to build His new temple. Like Peter, the ‘stone’, we confess that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God! On that confession, God builds His church!