A New Year – Women’s Devotion
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans 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. . . . But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10
A new year means a new you, right? Out with the old. In with the new! New potential. A fresh start. A clean slate.
We love the idea of pushing the restart button and getting a “do-over.” At least that’s what we’re led to believe.
But what if we are exactly where we’re supposed to be? What if we are doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing? What if the only change that needs to be made is to see God’s design from God’s perspective?
Peter knew that was exactly what the early Christians needed, so he wrote them a letter of encouragement we know as 1 Peter. Scattered throughout Asia Minor, God’s people were exiles. Because of their different culture, food, work, customs, political views, and religion they were “suffering grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6). They were treated with ridicule, suspicion, and even persecution. I don’t care who you are, every exile is looking for a fresh start.
We might think Peter would encourage them to “blend in.” “Create the new you!” “Captain your ship, just don’t rock the boat!”
Instead, Peter greets them with grace and peace in Jesus. He lifts their eyes beyond the present circumstance to the future inheritance waiting for them in heaven. He reminds them their hope is “living” because it was bought with the precious blood of Christ. And he encourages them to continue living as strangers by setting their minds on the grace to be revealed when Jesus comes instead of conforming to the world around them.
Why?
Because there was much more going on than these Christians could see from their limited and isolated perspective. God was building something, and they were a part of it.
Just like Jesus, who was chosen from before the creation of the world to be the cornerstone and foundation of their faith, the exiles were also—like living stones, being built into a spiritual house. This spiritual house was like the temple in Jerusalem where God’s presence dwelt.
The Christians would have clearly understood Peter’s message to them: With Jesus as your cornerstone, you are the living stones God is using to build his house. You. Exiles God has called holy, chosen, and precious because of Jesus. You, the priesthood of believers, are uniquely placed, but lovingly set together, as the house where God will dwell. And by living God’s way, as strangers in a godless world, you are showing him to the world around you!
They didn’t need to change anything or reinvent themselves. They were exactly where God wanted them to be for his kingdom to be built and his salvation revealed.
How?
By repaying evil with blessing and wrongdoing with humility and compassion. By serving others. By suffering for bearing God’s name. By submitting to corrupt governors because God gives authority. By working hard for unfair bosses. By offering hospitality without grumbling. By living Godly lives despite the ridicule and hardship. By not conforming to the world. By living for God.
They would be different than the world around them. But in doing so, they would point to Jesus.
We need that same encouragement today. The world we live in is as foreign to God’s kingdom as it was 2,000 years ago. We suffer grief in all kinds of trials at work, from unbelieving friends and neighbors, while raising children whose friend’s parents have different standards, when making sacrificial priorities with time, treasures, and talents, or suffering difficulty for bearing the name of Jesus. When we do these things as God’s children, we look different than most people around us.
And Peter’s encouragement in 1 Peter is for us as well. His message to us: There’s a bigger picture than what you can see. Because your faith is founded on the living Stone—you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house. You are where God dwells. And when you give thanks to Jesus by the way you live, you show the world who God is.
That’s God’s design for every Christian and the perspective we have as aliens and strangers in the world around us.
It was important enough for Peter to write a letter to the early Christians 2,000 years ago. And it’s important enough for us to give it time for thoughtful mediation today—and in the new year ahead.
You don’t need a fresh start or to become the new you. Since you are founded on the Living Stone, you are exactly where you should be, doing exactly what you were meant to be doing. You are a living stone! You are being built into God’s spiritual house. By living different than the world around you, you are thanking Jesus.
And in doing so, you are showing God to the world.
Prayer: Living Savior, as this new year begins and I reflect on the coming year, I pray that you would show me all the places I can give a clear witness of your grace and forgiveness. Give me boldness and courage to speak of the forgiveness you purchased on the cross and sealed with your resurrection. I ask for strength to bear up under challenges and trials so that you are glorified and people see your greatness. Through Word and sacrament, reinforce my grip on your truth that fills me with hope and radiant joy—I am a redeemed sinner living in your grace. All that I have is yours and yours alone. Amen.
Written by Dawn Schulz
