"This Precious Value, Then, Is For You Who Believe."

We read, (4) “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, (5) you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” (7) This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” (8) and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed” (1 Pet. 2:4-8). Christ is not just the milk we desire. He is the “precious and chosen cornerstone that we come to and build our lives on individually and collectively as the family of God!” Some reject the stone and stumble over it into eternal doom, but as verse 7 says, "This precious value, then, is for you who believe." Notice what happens when we connect verses 4 and 7. In verse 4, Christ is “choice and precious in the sight of God.” In verse 7, He is, therefore, precious to us who believe. We understand and embrace to be precious what our heavenly Father understands and embraces to be precious! Therefore, saving faith is not just agreeing that certain facts are true. Saving faith signifies a new nature. And the evidence of this new nature is that it desires Christ, it cherishes Him as precious. Peter is saying that if you are a believer, if you are born again, for you Christ is precious. If we do not long for Him like a baby desires milk, we should examine the roots of our faith and see if they are drawing life from the precious blood of Christ and the promises of God! To you who believe, Christ is precious! Your move. Be encouraged!