WEEK 3 // DAY 2

BUILT TOGETHER

Peter does not describe the church as a pile of stones. He describes a house. A pile can contain thousands of stones in the same location without those stones ever becoming connected to one another. A house is different. In a house, every stone has a place in relationship to the others. One supports another. One sits alongside another. Together, they become something no individual stone could become by itself.

This is an incredible picture of the people of God. Following Jesus is deeply personal, but it was never intended to remain private or isolated. God is not simply saving individual people and sending them away to pursue separated spiritual lives. Peter says God is building us together. The church is not merely an event you attend or a religious service you consume. It is a people into whom God is placing you. You belong to Jesus, and because you belong to Jesus, he brings you into relationship with others who belong to him.

That can be beautiful—and difficult. Other living stones are not always shaped the way you would have chosen. They come from different backgrounds. They have different personalities, experiences, preferences, strengths, weaknesses, and stories. Some will encourage you. Some will challenge you. Some will misunderstand you. And you will sometimes do the same to them. Yet God does not wait until every stone is perfectly shaped before he begins building. He takes redeemed, unfinished people and patiently forms them together around Jesus.

There are parts of discipleship you cannot practice alone. You can read Scripture alone and pray alone, but you cannot “love one another” alone. You cannot forgive one another alone. You cannot carry one another’s burdens alone. You cannot encourage, serve, practice patience with, or live in unity with other believers alone. God uses relationships within his people as one of the primary places where the character of Jesus is formed in you. It is possible to ‘attend church’ regularly while staying largely unknown. It is possible to receive without ever offering yourself in service to others. It is possible to occupy the same room with other Christians without allowing those relationships to become part of your discipleship. But that’s not being a living stone.

Jesus is the cornerstone, and every stone finds its place in relation to him. As you draw closer to Jesus and others draw closer to Jesus, God creates a unity that is deeper than preference or personality. You do not have to become identical to belong together. You simply have to keep allowing Jesus to determine the alignment. Take your next step to serve, join a group, ask someone to coffee, receive prayer, or allow another person to know something real about your life. Trust God enough to let him build you into his people. You have a place—and your place matters to what God is building.