The Strength Of The Church

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.

1 Peter 2:5

Whenever we hear about earthquakes in underdeveloped nations, the loss of life seems dis-proportionately large. Disaster experts usually cite a primary cause: the quality of building materials. It doesn’t take much of a quake to bring down buildings made out of poor-quality bricks, mortar, and concrete.

Good mortar, often lacking in poorer parts of the world, has to have several ingredients to be strong: lime, cement, sand, and water. Often, small pebbles or steel bars are put in the mortar for added reinforcement. To the degree any of these elements are missing, the strength of the building is compromised.

Likewise, the “living stones” of the church need a mix of elements in order for the body to be edified, or strengthened: love, encouragement, love, correction, love, wisdom, love, service . . . and don’t forget love. These, and more, make up the mortar that binds living stones to one another to withstand the assaults of the “gates of Hades” (Matthew 16:18). Make sure you add something to the mix this week to build up a brother or sister in Christ.

Dying to self is the only way living stones can strengthen one another.