Rejected To Be Chosen -- April 3, 2010

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:4-10 (NKJV)

What could be better than a Savior that knows rejection? All of us have experienced it in life. We have all stood on the outside looking in. Even though we are rejected by men god has chosen us to be His people. He did it by putting Christ in our place to experience all the injuries this life has to offer. Yet Christ, His Son did not fail to remain holy and perfect. Christ even experienced a criminal death to be like us. This quote from Psalm 118:22 was used by Peter early in ministry, soon after died. We are told the story in Acts 4 where Peter on trial for healing a lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. Peter tells them that Jesus is the Stone rejected by them but chosen by God not only as a healer but as the Savior of the world; the only source of Salvation – the only authorized Name to seal us to God. Now Peter is still pointing out Jesus as our single connection to God.

I believe this is because as a rough fisherman trying to run a business, Peter had been rejected from many groups in the place he lived. He had been pigeon-holed as an ignorant, blue-collar worker. Now Jesus had included him the world changing ministry of the inner staff of God’s own Son. Peter who had been shut out of so many things was no brought into intimate proximity with Jesus. Like Peter we can trade our outsider status for an integral part of the work of God. We can move from darkness to light. We can join with not only God but we are incorporated into His people. Best of all we are included in His mercy.

As we celebrate His resurrection tomorrow let’s remember that no matter how we feel in the moment or how others treat us (even His people), we are His and we are joined with our fellow believers in serving, ministering to, and worshipping Him. This is the truth that Peter held onto as he led the fledgling Church into its fullness. It was a base to build an eclectic group into a solid spiritual house. We are part of that same house. There is a place for all of us rejects to belong. We only need to align with the original Rejected Stone to find our place.

Proclaiming The Praises Of Him,


Pastor Jason