Monday Thought -- May 27, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - 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. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.  But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’ They stumble because they disobey the message - which is also what they were destined for.” (1 Peter 2:4-8)

It amazes me how differently people view Jesus. Some embrace Jesus as God and Savior. Some see Jesus only as a great teacher and a moral example, but not a savior. Others view Him negatively, as intolerant of those who don’t accept His narrow views on life. And, no doubt, there are many other opinions about Jesus that people hold.

That’s always been the case.

It was that way in Jesus’ day. The rich young ruler considered Jesus a good teacher, but was unwilling to surrender to Him as Lord. The Pharisees saw Him as a danger to their position and someone to oppose, to deal with, to get rid of. Some saw Him only as a miracle-worker – someone who would meet their needs and when they didn’t have needs, to ignore. And others, like the apostles, looked at Him, His life, His teachings, and His works and saw God.

Peter reminds us that Jesus was “rejected by men.” So when we see people rejecting Him now, it shouldn’t surprise us. It certainly doesn’t surprise God! But though He was ignored or rejected by the majority during His own life and is being ignored or rejected by the majority today, God’s perspective is quite different. Rejected by men – chosen by God. Declared useless by men – not worth building a life on. Chosen by God as the cornerstone of His own Kingdom!

It amazes me how differently people view Jesus. How do you view Him? I choose to see Him like God does – the only One worth building a life on!

His, by Grace,

Steve