The Eternal man

​“You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.2.5.NASB1995

1 Peter 1:25 was about the eternal Word of God, http://bharper504.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-eternal-word-of-god.html. Today I want to talk about the Eternal man. Not Jesus, but you and all those who are around you. We are parts of God’s living Church, each a living stone. Just as Jesus is the cornerstone and Peter and the other apostles were stones for God to use to build His kingdom so too are we stones in God’s living church! And as we are to interact with the Word of God in five ways through reading, hearing, studying, memorizing, and meditation. I believe there are five ways we are to interact with each other.

First, we are to interact with witnessing as our intention. We are to talk to non-believers with the hope that today or sometime in the future they will also become Christians. This was Jesus' main goal while he was here (John 19:30). But to influence our friends and family to be Christians we must display an attractive Jesus so that they want to become a follower of Jesus. Some of us will excel in witnessing, but we all must live a life that witnesses Christ!

Second, we must fellowship with other followers of Jesus. In this manner, we encourage other believers to keep going toward the goal of the eternal presence of God. We cannot live in this world as lone rangers but as a united force against our one common enemy, the devil! Check out Hebrews 10:23-25 and look for the 4 “let us” statements. Some of us will excel in fellowship, but all of us must have fellowship with other Christians.

Third, we must be hospitable! To be hospitable we must use our resources to meet up with new and old friends. We must be willing to entertain strangers unaware.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.13.2.NASB1995

Hospitality is big for my family. We know the importance of being the church in our home. Some of the best friends we have were born in our house. They entered as acquaintances and left as friends. Some of us will excel in hospitality but we all must be hospitable!

Fourth, we must serve! Service is using our time for others. Jesus proved that he was a servant during his lifetime. But none more evident than when He washed the disciple's feet in Mark 10. He removed his messiah’s clothes and adorned himself in a towel, the servant's clothes. Some people will excel in service because it is their gift but all of us must serve!

And Fith, we must Love. Just as mediation touches all of our listening, reading, studying, and memorizing, so love must touch all of our witnessing, fellowship, hospitality, and service. For if we do not we become just a noisy cymbal and no one wants to be around that for too long. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭35‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.13.35.NASB1995

Our impact on the world is not accomplished by our great miracles, excellent speeches, or our sacrifice to an organization, but by our love of those people in our jobs, churches, and towns. We are called to love three different types of people, our spouses, our brothers, and our enemies which then includes everyone. 

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the Lord will reward you.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.25.22.NASB1995

By loving everyone we can save them from sins that would destroy their lives and encourage them to find Jesus the ultimate Love.