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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