The Stone in Your Path

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Scripture:


1Pet. 2:6 For it stands in scripture:

“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious;

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the very head of the corner,”

8 and

“A stone that makes them stumble,

and a rock that makes them fall.” 

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.


Observation:


Peter has been talking about Jesus, the living stone, and the invitation for us to join him as living stones. Together we are to be the temple. Now, he uses Old Testament texts from Isaiah and the Psalms to make his point, but also a comparison. For those who believe in this precious stone, there will be no shame. But for those who choose not to be believe, he will become the stone in your path, and you will stumble over him. 


Application:


Jesus is the stone who remains firmly in our path. There are two options when it comes to addressing the stone. When our eyes are opened and we see the living stone for who he is — the Cornerstone, then in belief, we can build our lives upon him — our firm foundation. The other option is to find Christ as an annoyance, a stone that is simply in the way, one that we need to get around so that we can get on with our lives. 


Have we ever stopped to consider that the struggles in life are because we are kicking the stone that is in our path? That’s what the Apostle Paul did and Jesus called him out, “‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.’” (Acts 26:14b, NRSV) It really does hurt to kick the stone in your path, and the only one feeling the pain is you. It’s painful when you kick the Cornerstone out of your marriage, your work, and your life decisions. 


We have a choice to make regarding the stone in our path. Believing in Jesus Christ takes faith, but that first step will help to reshape every facet of life. The Cornerstone will take his rightful place in the foundation on which all of life can be built. You choose. What will you do with the Stone in your path?


Prayer:


Lord, my desire is to built my life upon You, but I know that somedays I try to do things on my own. Help me to seek you, and build upon you, day after day. Amen. 

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