"You Also As Living Stones, Are Built Up A Spiritual House."

Living stones!

(James Smith, "Gleams of Grace" 1860)

Peter having spoken of CHRIST

as a living, precious stone, adds,

"You also as living stones, are built up 
a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer 
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to GOD 
by JESUS CHRIST." 1 Peter 2:5

WHAT ARE BELIEVERS? "Stones," 

for every Christian has that in him which 

is solid, durable, and ornamental. 

The grace of GOD gives a man solidity--

he cannot be as light, trifling, and vain as

he used to be. HE has solid and settled 

thoughts upon high and holy subjects; 

he has solid hopes and joys. He is not 

carried about with every wind of doctrine--

but becomes established and settled in the faith.

He is durable too. Others fall away--

but he endures to the end. Once fixed 

on the foundation, once really united 

to CHRIST, he remains built 

on CHRIST forever.

He is ornamental too. Some stones 

are capable of taking a very high polish, 

and so is the Christian. The polished 

stones in GOD'S temple will catch the rays 

of HIS glory and reflect them; and in every 

stone, the great Builder will see HIS 

own lovely likeness reflected.

They are living stones. They are living, 

each one being quickened by divine 

grace, and made new creatures. 

They are lively, made so by divine 

communications, and kept so 

by fellowship with JESUS, 

the life-giving stone.

These living stones are not 

thrown together in confusion--

but each one is fitted for his place 

before he is put into it. Every separate 

stone is laid on the foundation, which 

bears the entire weighs of the whole 

building. All the stones are united 

to the foundation, by a cement 

so strong, that nothing can ever 

separate them. The HOLY SPIRIT 

acts as the cement in this spiritual 

building. HE . . .

  brings us to CHRIST,

  lays us on CHRIST,

  unites us to CHRIST, and

  keeps us in eternal union with CHRIST!

These living stones are a holy priesthood.

Being stripped of their natural and carnal coverings,

being washed in the laver of regeneration,

being clothed with the garments of salvation,

and covered with the robe of righteousness,

and being consecrated by the application 

of the blood of atonement, and the holy 

anointing oil, the unction from the HOLY ONE--

they are prepared and qualified 

to officiate in this living temple.

These living stones are to offer up 

spiritual sacrifices. This they are to do 

continually, the sacrifices of prayer and 

praise, which like holy incense, ascends 

as a precious perfume to GOD.

       ~  ~  ~  ~  ~ 

GraceGems has published J.A. James' insightful article,
 "The Duty of Meditation".