On and With These Rocks I Stand

My wife Beth's devotion, written to complement the Sunday sermon.  

On and With These Rocks I Stand

By Beth Stroble

The 1 Peter passage for this week’s devotional is part of a larger message by the book’s author addressed to “God’s chosen strangers in the world of the diaspora” (1:1a). We are the current generation of those who, by the grace of God know his love and mercy. Because we are the living church here in Webster HIlls and across the world, this letter is for us. 

The second chapter addresses our identity as believers, using a surprising metaphor to convey our nature and calling: a rock. We may remember that Peter himself, the individual to whom authorship of this book is attributed, was renamed “The Rock” by Jesus and charged to be the foundation for the church. Rocks are the necessary elements of structures, and their relative strength and stability are fundamental features.  Rock, paper, scissors.  Of course, that chant begins with the rock.  I usually choose rock; how about you?

Yet, if we think of rocks as stationary and unchangeable objects, we not only miss some of what is true about rocks (think about molten lava, tectonic shifts, petrified forests. earthquakes, and glacial impacts on mountains and valleys), but we miss what Jesus and Peter want from us as fellow rocks. “Now you are coming to him as a living stone. Even though this stone was rejected by humans, from God’s perspective, it is chosen, valuable. You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple” (2: 4-5a).

To be a “living stone” forming a “spiritual temple” conveys intention and movement.  These stones need to be strong enough to move mountains and nimble enough to skip ably across troubled waters.  The author of the UM Discipleship Resources invites us to sing songs about the rock of our faith.  There are many; through their lyrics, phrasing, tempo, key, and harmony, stressing the reliability of our Savior. I think of this line, “On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” 

As I reflect on what it means to be a living stone, embracing a living hope, I think about how important rocks have been to me throughout my life.  My grandparents and parents were all gatherers of rocks and minerals, and their gatherings formed the basis of collections created by my brother and me.  Items first picked up in farm fields in Texas and Tennessee were joined by those from the oil fields of Wyoming. As my father drilled water wells in the Chicago area, he saved rock cores for me. Through our career moves and family vacations, Paul and I have become gatherers of rocks and movers of rocks. As our belongings have been loaded into trucks for cross-country moves, at least one box or two will be labeled “rocks.” These markers of now-distant places and times ground my earthly identity and help me understand how my spiritual identity is built on the cornerstone of Christ.

I think it is not a coincidence that when I created a rock garden two summers ago, the garden itself was first formed with these rock keepsakes. It is a garden for my rocks. Then it was populated with markers of our faith and finally, assorted flowers and herbs. At its center is a cross-shaped casting that quotes Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith not by sight.” 

Dear Lord, we seek always to walk by faith.  We praise you for your loving kindness, and we ask that you roll the stone away from our stubborn hearts, enabling us to place our trust solely in you as our cornerstone. May we be the living stones who build a community of caring and justice, standing for those who have been rejected and bringing all into the knowledge and acceptance of the gift of your grace.