1 Peter 2:7-8 - Stumbling

1 Peter 2:7-8

“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,

(8)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.”

We’ve talked about the good news of Christ for those who believe. Those who believe receive forgiveness and restoration because of God’s mercy and grace. We receive relationship and guidance, joy and peace, and countless other benefits because of the actions of Jesus Christ. But just as some choose Christ and receive the wonderful benefits of relationship with Christ, some choose not to follow Christ. What happens to them?

Simply stated, those who deny Christ will stumble and fall. The stone that is precious to believers, the stone that provides life and love and joy, becomes a stone in the path of the unbelieving that causes them to stumble. Have you ever been walking along and clipped your toe on a crack or something and stumble…and then try to cover it with a few steps of jogging (“hey, I didn’t trip…I just decided to jog right there”)? To those who don’t believe or obey, Christ is that thing that causes them to stumble – over and over and over – for the rest of their lives.

Don’t be surprised when your friends or professors who don’t believe in Christ cannot understand why you believe (check out 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). What seems so important to us is nonsense to them. What seems so simple to us is convoluted to them. It’s almost like knowing a foreign language – when we read God’s word, we understand it, but to those who don’t know Jesus – they may understand the words, but they don’t connect with the meaning.

That is why it is so important for us to live in such a way that those who don’t know Christ can see Christ in us. We have the Holy Spirit who teaches us God’s truth, the unbeliever doesn’t have the Spirit…they only have you and me. They may not understand the love of Jesus when they read the bible (though the Spirit can always reveal the truth to them), but they will recognize the truth when you live it out in front of them.

It’s an old phrase, but still pertinent: “You may be the only Jesus your friends will ever see.” What type of Jesus do exemplify? Are you living your life with love, compassion, and truth? Do your friends have reason to wonder why your life is different from theirs? We have the very Spirit of God living within us; does He ever show through in our lives? How does the Spirit of God show through your life? By living a life of obedience.

Allow me a moment to expound on that thought. How you live your life matters. It matters to God, who has called you to be His hands and feet in the world. It matters to your friends and family who believe; they need to be encouraged and challenged by your life. It matters to your friends and family who don’t believe; they need to see Christ in you so the Holy Spirit can draw them Christ. And it matters in your life; love, joy, peace, hope, and all good things are given in abundance to those who are obedient.

How you live your matters. How are you living your life?

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” – John 14:15