Preparing for corporate worship: Stones in a house

"And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (I Peter 2:4-5). The word pictures are vivid in these verses. As believers in the One who is a "living stone," we are "living stones" being constructed into a "spiritual house." Each of us is a vital piece of a whole. The weekly gathering of this household for corporate worship demonstrates this reality. This stone-upon-stone building into one house results in a "holy priesthood." We are all priests. As a priesthood, we all "offer up spiritual sacrifices" -- sacrifices that are accepted by God because we come to Him through our High Priest, who has poured out His blood once for all time as the only satisfaction for sin. May we recognize this Sunday the basis of our worship of the one true God. May we offer Him "spiritual sacrifices" in our worship. May we recognize the bond that unites us into one spiritual house.