1 Peter 2:1-16

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Ingredients blend to make a delicious cake, members form a winning team, notes come together in a touching melody, individual shards create a striking mosaic. 

"As you come to him, the living stone -- rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him -- you, also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5)

Let's unpack these two verses a bit. We, though separate beings, are being built into one unit. We are being crafted together to form a spiritual house, a place where others can come to be drawn to the presence of God, a shelter where others can sense the goodness of God. 

We are becoming a holy priesthood, a group of people whose job is to offer spiritual sacrifices on behalf of others. We are to act in the interest of others and for their good. Our sacrifices are to be acceptable to God. 

We are not the agents of the process, the builders, but we are the components of the process, living stones. We are parts in His design and pieces in his creation. 

How? How does this happen? How can we come together and be held together to become more beautiful than we can ever imagine being alone? The first five words say it all:  "As you come to Him..." 

In this divisive political climate, it’s clear. We are all different. We choose different political parties and have different leanings on fiscal and social issues. We have opposing opinions about education and raising children, or even interpreting the Bible and worshipping God. Yet, God longs to build us into His Temple and bind us together as His holy priesthood.

There's something way bigger going on right now in our country and in the church than I can imagine. There’s something far more beautiful than our wildest dreams envision and far better than any single church or denomination ever can achieve on its own. 

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. 

God, please keep us coming to you, the great architect and builder of all things beautiful and good. Make us living stones, in your hands, laid on the great Cornerstone. May we Christians in all our differences be cemented together so that we become a beautiful temple and a holy priesthood for others. Thank you. Amen.