Like living stones, [you] are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. — 1 Peter 2:5 Jesus came as the Savior to bring us into God’s family, providing us a home with God. As Peter describes it, Jesus is also the cornerstone of our faith: “The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (See also Psalm 25:3; Isaiah 28:16.) And “like living stones,” we “are being built into a spiritual house” to serve God with “spiritual sacrifices.” Another way to say this is pictured in Ephesians 4:12-13: we are called to “works of service, so that the body of Christ [the church] may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” All of this imagery reflects the fact that, through Jesus, God has brought redemption for all who believe him, making them his family, his chosen people. Again, as Peter writes, “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” We become royalty when we are adopted into the family of God. We are built together on the firm foundation of Christ with the love of God through the Holy Spirit. No storm can shake this house. This “dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” will stand forever (Ephesians 2:22). Lord Jesus, you are our firm foundation. Hold us together in your holy church. Build us into a dwelling that is worthy of your name. Amen.