A Written Illustration about Stones

An oxymoron is a term used in language class to describe a pair of words which are describing opposite ends of a spectrum. An example would be "deafening silence." Silence means that there is no noise while deafening would describe an unbearable amount of noise. Here are some other examples:

• jumbo shrimp
• definite maybe
• bitter sweet
• good grief
• loud whisper
• old news
• original copy
• small crowd
• working vacation
• final draft

Even though the words seem to conflict with each other, the juxtaposition (putting two contrasting things near each other) of the terms creates a meaning of its own. A "deafening silence" is not trying to explain the sound in a location, nor the lack or sound in a location, but rather a feeling that a person may have when there is no noise when noise is expected. For example: After Billy broke grandmother's lamp during the family reunion, a deafening silence filled the room.

Peter uses several oxymorons in his letter, including this one in the second chapter of his first book.

1 Peter 2:4-5New International Version (NIV)

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 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.

Living stones.

Jesus is the first living stone, but we are all living stones, as well. Stones are the textbook definition of something that is not alive in science class, and yet that is what Peter is describing. Maybe it is hinting at the fact that you are both a sinner and a saint - both full of sin and yet forgiven because of the work of Jesus. That is the very heart of Christianity, but it's also talking about something more than that. God's people are not isolated from each other; we form a community with a common purpose similar to a number of rocks creating a unified structure. 

As God's community you are stronger and connected to other believers. You are not a house that is damaged and falls down, but a building which grows stronger through adversity since God has but healing qualities in all living things. A house does not grow stronger after a hurricane, but a tree that is stressed and survives such a storm grows to withstand the next challenge it faces.

You are a living stone, chosen, and precious to Him, part of a community of living stones.

Together we rock!

It Does a Body Good!

I am amazed that the appearance of food will often trump the taste of food for young children. If something looks good, it tastes good (especially if there is sugar in it!) Every once in a while I will see some piece of candy that looks appealing, but I'm not satisfied. There's something better. Why would I want to waste my time eating this when I know the masterpiece that my wife is creating for dinner will be so much better? It's strange, but sometimes...

Maybe that is a little of what Peter was thinking when he began the second chapter of his first letter to the chosen exiles (those two words just don't seem to fit together, do they?) throughout a region in Asia - chosen by God, but rejected by the world.

1 Peter 2:1-3New International Version (NIV)

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Why waste your time on evil - on malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander? Maybe they would be something you would do if you didn't know how awesome God is, maybe if you were just living for yourself. But you do know that there is something much better! Just like babies being nourished by their mother's milk, you are nourished by the Lord when you spend time with him and live in his love.  Carve out some time to be nourished by the One who loves you more than you can imagine!

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Pure in Heart

The book of Ruth is brief story of unforced compassion. When tragedy struck, Ruth had no obligation to help her mother-in-law, but chose to stay with her anyway. Boaz was not required to care for or redeem Ruth, but chose to pay the price anyway. This makes it easy to see why people might make a connection between the life of Ruth and Matthew 5:7 - Ruth was merciful, and another showed her mercy.

Matthew 5:7-8New International Version (NIV)

7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.

The first verse is pretty clear, but the second is a bit more cryptic. What does it mean to have a pure heart? What does it mean to see God? What if I'm not sure that my heart is pure, or at least all the way pure? Will I still get to see God?

The phrase about a 'pure heart' can be found a few others places in Psalms, but the most well-known place is in Psalm 51 - the psalm of contrition that David prayed after realizing the extent of his sin around the affair with Bathsheba. David prayed for God to "create in me a pure heart."

David's 'pure heart' was not dependent on his ability to be pure; it depended on God's ability to make David's heart pure. It's God's work in us, not our innate pureness. For that mater, our ability to be merciful is also dependent on God working in us to soften our hearts and to help us be merciful to those around us, especially those who don't appear to deserve mercy. God works in you to share mercy with others, and chances are that through those experiences, you will see God!

Whatever

Some people call this the "whatever" verse (saying it like they are a disinterested teenager). It might be a bit trite to use this in response to the word being used by a young adult who is less than excited about life, however spending time thinking about the words to this verse might prevent someone from getting into that mindset.

Philippians 4:8New International Version (NIV)

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

It is really important to fill your mind up with the right types of things, otherwise it is too easy for the devil, the world, and our sinful desires to creep into our brain's focus. It might be fruitless to tell a child to stop whistling; by just saying their phrase the child's brain is still locked into that activity. Instead, what should the child do? "Stop whistling and think about how we can help our neighbor who has surgery yesterday."

What good things can you fill your mind with?

Fruit

The Fruit of the Spirit may be one of the better known Bible passages, and it is a favorite for use as a memory verse. One of the more common mistakes is hearing people say, "The fruits of the Spirit." Fruit is singular in Galatians.

Galatians 5:22-23New International Version (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Theologically it's not a huge problem, but I think there might be a temptation to say, "I've got the joy fruit, but not much of the patience fruit." While it's true that different people have varying temperaments, the passage is really saying that the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit is all of these things.

When we are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in us, then we are producing great things and others are able to take notice of this. God's blessings on your fruit bearing!

Third Article

There are a lot of good things written about the power of the Gospel and grace as rediscovered by the reformers of the sixteenth century. However, one of the clearest descriptions of our helpless situation before Jesus and new life in Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit can be found in Luther's meaning/explanation of the third article of the Apostles' Creed.

The meaning to the 3rd Article of the Apostles' Creed

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; 

but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; 

in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, 

and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

The first article describes what the Father does as creator and provider. The second article narrates the saving work of Christ. The third article is more of a list than either a description or narrative: Holy Spirit, holy Christian church, communion of saints, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, life everlasting. Growing up I remember wondering why we never learn what the Holy Spirit does; instead we just get a list of church things.

But that's what the Holy Spirit does! The Holy Spirit creates the church by working faith in the hearts of people, a connection or communion of all who are in Christ whether alive or in heaven, regenerating lives through forgiveness, giving us the hope of a resurrection of all people because of the resurrection of Jesus, and working in us life now and into eternity. We can be very thankful that the Holy Spirit is more than the first item of a list!

Stay Connected

What good would a computer be with no power cord? Imagine getting the nicest laptop that is made with great graphics, sound, and processing speed, but no way to power the computer to make it run; no battery left and no cord to charge the battery. How frustrating would that be?

This might be a current translation of the analogy that Jesus was using in John 15, probably as the disciples were walking with Jesus near a vineyard.

John 15:5New International Version (NIV)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

A branch which is not connected to the vine is not going to live very long, and it has no chance to creating any grapes. The only way for the branch to be useful is if it stays connected to vine. The only way for the computer to be useful is if it stays connected to a power source. The only way that we can be useful is to stay connected to our creator, redeemer, and sanctifier. Stay connected to Jesus!