1ST Peter 2:8. “And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto they were appointed.” A STONE OF STUMBLING, AND A ROCK OF OFFENCE. Look at them come to hear His gracious words –
Look at their faces as they turn from His truths – Look at their body language, they are turning away – Look at their attitude; they are rejecting what he does say.
They stumbled and fell, and took others down too – They were offended at Him even though they knew What He did and who He was, was so different from them That they stumbled and fell, offended at His truth, never to rise again.
Watch how people react at His name, you can see if they believe or not. See what they do when you carry a Bible and you can tell what they’ve got. Bow and pray – see if they stay to engage in conversation with you. Look at their face – see if God’s grace indicates if they are false or true.
People stumble at time over the Head of the Corner, because His name is Jesus. They are uncomfortable and resentful to think there is One who always sees us. They’re offended at the fact that the Rock in the track knows every sin we do. They do not intend their ways to amend or submit to Him that is true.
Isn’t it strange to see normal men stumble over a thing like a word; But the reason it happens is they don’t want to submit to Jesus Christ as Lord. I’m not surprised when one who never relies on Him who holds our breath in His hand, Turn away and fall be they ever so tall, and won’t rise until before His throne they stand.
Then they’re too late to wipe clean the slate of sins which they did commit. How sad is the case when they look on the face of the One who our sins did remit; But when they stumbled over the Stone – the One who sits on the throne, they’ll see their awful mistake. The Rock of Offence will send them out hence, from the throne to the fierce burning lake.
“I wonder Father; if there are ways I have not tried that will cause people to listen and not stumble. The word of God is all I know that will bring the right results. Help me to continually keep in Thy Word and pass it on to others. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
"Spiritual sacrifices" offered by a "holy priesthood" are acceptable to God. The priesthood of all believers means that each one has direct access to God. Priests are to reflect the holiness of God and of our "Great High Priest." The spiritual sacrifices we have to offer are not insignificant when we are true worshippers. Priests also intercede for others before God and represent God before others.
Our High Priest offers acceptable sacrifices of that which we bring to Him as gifts and sacrifices to offer on our behalf [Heb.8:3]. There is the sacrifice of a consecrated body [Rom.12:1] which is a willingness to that which impossible to a natural man. Audible praise [Heb.13;15] is a sacrifice when we take time to think deliberate thoughts that are praiseworthy to God. The sacrifice of temporal goods [Heb.13:16] indicates labor has been expended to meet the needs of others. Gifts to the Lord's servants [Phil.4:8] is sharing what we have for a specific purpose. The sacrifice of thanksgiving [Ps.107:22] puts into words gratitude for blessings we have received. The openness to let our emotions show produces the sacrifice of joy for God's mercies [Ps.27:6]. The sacrifice of contrition [Ps.51:7] produces real repentance. Righteous living before the Lord when we refuse to compromise with what is wrong, is an acceptable sacrifice. The sacrifice of one's own self [2Tim.4:6] means the pain of reproach, suffering and perhaps death is involved. Better than any physical sacrifice is the sacrifice of obedience [1Sam.15:22] which is a direct response of love to our Father.