A Lesson from Peter the Rock
Thousands of pages have been written on Christ's words to Peter: On this rock I will build my church." May not Peter's own writings about the "Living Rock," the "sure foundation," throw some light on the meaning? Peter says nothing of himself as being more than any other Christian. Quite humbly he refers to the word, "stone of stumbling " which Jesus used so sharply on that memorable day, but writing to Christians he says: "To whom coming as to a living stone, ye also as living stones are built." Was not Peter the first stone on the foundation, upon whom the next living stones rested? Was not Peter the one who led thousands to Christ on the day of Pentecost, the first to open the door of faith to the Gentiles? Let us not deny him this primacy. But let us learn this from him: that we, who through some Christian have learned of Christ, must so live that another can learn Christ through us, — that we, who have rested the weight of our faith and hope on the testimony and life of another and so have been built upon the true foundation, must ourselves be living stones, able to win the confidence and support of some one else. Each living stone that is built upon another must in its turn become the foundation for another. Supported myself by another, I must myself support another.
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord." Every stone in a growing temple stands in this double relation, — laid on the course below in trust, and bearing up in trustworthiness the course above it.
Maltbie D. Babcock 1858~1901 (excerpt from his book titled Thoughts For Every-Day Living)
Forwarded fromCarli • Saved by Grace
5September 2, 2026 31
