Imitate The Cornerstone

This morning I am thinking about something Peter wrote that I have read before, but have never spent time thinking about it, and today the phrase grabbed my attention.  Here are the verses - 1 Peter 2:4-5 NIV:

[4] "As you come to him, the living Stone---rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him--- [5] 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."

The thing that caught my attention was Peter's applying the term "living stones" to us.  The original Greek words basically mean exactly that, stones that are alive.  In this case, we must turn to the origination of this phrase, which Peter goes on to include, for Jesus is clearly the Living Stone.  In the following verses Peter quotes three different verses from Isaiah 28, Psalms 118 and Isaiah 8.

1 Peter 2:6-8 NIV:

[6] "For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 

[7] Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 

[8] and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” 

They stumble because they disobey the message---which is also what they were destined for."

As the first living stone, Peter is applying the meaning of the cornerstone, which is defined as:  "A cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure." ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornerstone).  

It is so important that we understand this structural reference.  We are all supposed to be in reference to Him, to Jesus.  Our position, our purpose, our alignment, even our inclusion all are referenced from Him. 

As I was thinking about this,  I was reminded that several years ago the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets were popular.  That movement was a resurgence of thought that originally came from Augustine's writings, and then more recently from the writings of Thomas A Kempis (The Imitation of Christ), quoted by Charles Spurgeon in 1891, and then finally from title of a book by Charles Sheldon published in 1896. (historical references from Wikipedia)  The original thinking was actually based on the following verses from Paul's letter to the Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV:

[19] "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

I find the parallels quite obvious, and Paul adds a statement at the beginning of verses 21 and 22 that is missing from Peter's statement.  Paul says that "in Him" we are joined together and being built.  He is not just our Chief Cornerstone, He is our only reference and connection.  Augustine of Hippo, in 400, expanded on this thought and actually coined the term "imitation of Christ".  We are in Him, and quoting Jesus in John, He is in us! (John 17:23).  We are called to represent, or one could say "to imitate Him" and we do this best from a place of relationship to Him.

We are not called to be cheap imitations, but rather connected directly to the original source, the original type, as much like Him as possible.  We see people doing imitations of famous people and while its helpful, often times funny, we are called to something truer.  Back when I traveled to China you were able to find all sorts of imitation goods that were patterned after the finest brands of golf clubs, watches, fine clothes, purses, and pretty much anything else.  The nearer to perfect imitation, the more they cost.  Regardless of how nice they were they were just patterned after the original, and always pointed to the real thing.  

In our imitation of Christ, we are to do the same, to become like Him, but always pointing to Him!  Our goal is not to encourage people to follow our example, but rather to become like Christ, and follow Him, and become like Him!  He is the reference for us all.  Thus the question is not what would our pastor do, or what would some famous Christian teacher do, but rather what would Jesus do?  What did He demonstrate to us during His time of ministry?  What is recorded in scripture of His words and actions, and treatment of others?  For this reason it is imperative that we know the scriptures, that we reflect on the Gospels, and learn to think and act like Jesus did!  

This is not a scholarly exercise, rather one of internal transformation.  Jesus is in us, we are in Him, Holy Spirit is in us guiding us, and transforming us.  This is about us becoming a new creation in the likeness of our cornerstone, Jesus!

I know that I am far from being a good imitation of Christ Jesus, but that is my goal!  

Lord, I pray that You would help me, help all of us to become more like You!  I pray that You might guide my actions and thoughts, help me to be more like You!  I am desirous of a transformation so complete that others can see You in me.

Amen and Amen!