1 Peter 2:4-7, vs. 7 “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,…The stone that the builders rejected…”
How does a moth end up getting burned by a flame. If you ever heard the expression, “like a moth to a flame,” you will know that the moth is drawn to the flame, but “The phrase is a simple allusion to the well-known attraction that moths have to bright lights. The word moth was used in the 17th century to mean someone who was apt to be tempted by something that would lead to their downfall”. Some are, “Irresistibly and dangerously attracted to something or someone.” (The phrase finder). God’s children are drawn to Him (while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8), He did the irresistible drawing of us to Himself.
Jesus spoke the Words in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” Left to myself I would have stayed as an enemy of the Lord, but thanks be to God that He has drawn me, and not only me but all of His children. His children collectively are also His Bride. The Father has drawn the Bride to the Groom. The bride initially has nothing to offer the Groom. Christ was and is perfect, and we are not, we were more likened to the prostitute in the book of Hosea. Yet while we were in our sin, Christ died for us (Roman 5:8) and then drew us to Himself.
R.C. Sproul shares, “Coming” to Christ includes initial repentance and faith, but the Greek tense implies a continual drawing near as well.” The verdict is not only a day that you came to Christ drawn by the Father, but furthermore do you keep coming and drawing near. James says it this way, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you“. John MacArthur states, “Pursue an intimate love relationship with God (cf. Philippians 3:10). The concept of drawing near to God was associated originally with the Levitical priests (Exodus. 19:22; Leviticus. 10:3; Ezekiel. 44:13), but eventually came to describe anyone’s approach to God (Psalm 73:28; Is. 29:13; Hebrews 4:16; 7:19; 10:22)”
Peter continues describing Him (Christ) as a living stone rejected by men. The estimation of the identity of Christ was one of a rejected man by those that were in power, and authority in Christ’s Day. He was certainly a living stone, but utterly despised by those that should have sought to embrace Him. Oh, how so many missed the reality of who Christ was, and many still do. To the Father, Christ was chosen and precious. Men viewed the Son of God through their sinful eyes, while the Father viewed His Son as both chosen and precious.
Men rejected, God chose; men despised Christ as a cursed Jew (Galatians 3), but the Father saw Him always as precious, the of precious of all. The Father spoke from Heaven the words, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased“. The Father honored His Son in the sight of all who saw Him. There has never been a time when the Father was not pleased with the Son, even when the Son was on the cross, the sacrifice pleased the Father to turn His wrath from coming upon humanity. The Father is revealed in the glory of the Son, because of the Trinity, as they are One. We must come to the One that the builders rejected, because unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain that build. Did it ever dawn upon you that Christ choose twelve disciples to be a light to the world, because the twelve tribes of Israel failed to do so. Now of course through the tribe of Judah Jesus came, but what of the tribes being the light? Jesus’ Twelve would shine for Him because they came to Him, He called them to be fishers of men, and they kept coming to Him until the days of their martyrdom.
Application: Do you and I look upon Christ as a stone to be rejected, or as precious in the sight of God? John Piper often asks, “Is Christ the greatest treasure in your life.?”.
Please also listen to this short and powerful illustration by Paul Washer on Come to Christ
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=327101648234
Until the nets are filled…
Blessings,
Phil,
Soulfishing Ministries Evangelist<>
He Has Magnified His Word 