The Rock That is Higher Than I

1 Peter 2:4-8 (NLT)
Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him.
And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are God's holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ. As the Scriptures express it,

"I am placing a stone in Jerusalem,
a chosen cornerstone,
and anyone who believes in him
will never be disappointed."

Yes, he is very precious to you who believe. But for those who reject him,

"The stone that was rejected by the builders
has now become the cornerstone."

And the Scriptures also say,

"He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that will make them fall."

They stumble because they do not listen to God's word or obey it, and so they meet the fate that has been planned for them.





Peter portrays the church as a living, spiritual house, with Christ as the foundation and cornerstone and each believer as a stone. Paul portrays the church as a body, with Christ as the head and each believer as a member (see, for example, Ephes. 4:15-16). Both pictures emphasize community. One stone is not a temple or even a wall; one body part is useless without the others. In our individualistic society, it is easy to forget our interdependence with other Christians. When God calls you to a task, remember that he is also calling others to work with you. Together your individual efforts will be multiplied. Look for those people and join with them to build a beautiful house for God.