Devotional
I love a good mixed metaphor. They are often are so ridiculous they give me a good chuckle.
"This is weak tea to hang your hat on."
"Now that the rubber has met the road, we won't bite the bullet, and instead want to punt."
"She stepped up to the plate and called a foul."
Scripture also seems to love them because they are all over the place. Metaphors in Scripture remind us that words and ideas are pointing towards truth - they are not the truth themselves. We ought to be cautious of (ahem) hanging our hats on a metaphor, when in fact the metaphor is not the point.
Anyway, take a look at all the things Peter suggests we are like:
Verse 1
Newborn babies - craving spiritual milk so we can grow up.
Verse 4
Living stones...
being built into a house...
to be a holy priesthood.
Verse 9
Chosen race,
royal priesthood,
holy nation,
special inheritance.
All of these metaphors are pointing towards this larger, multi-faceted truth that we incredibly precious and important to God; and that we have a purpose and mission as His beloved.
This is all intermingled with the fact that Jesus (also precious and beloved by God) was rejected by people and believed to be scandalous. And yet, that rejection and scandal did not change the fact that He was beloved by God.
In the same way, although we may feel like foreigners and exiles; though it seems like our very existence seems scandalous to others; that doesn't change how God sees us. While the world may not offer us mercy and may not see us as human beings, God says, "You're my kind of people! You can now swim in an ocean of mercy!"
I'll happy sink into that metaphor.
Apply
- Which metaphors of God's love for you and your belonging speak to you must deeply and clearly?
- Are there ways that you can extend that some love, belonging, and mercy to someone today?
Pray
God, I thank you that I am your beloved. That you are building me into someone even more beautiful than I was the day before. Empower me, by Your Holy Spirit, to join You in your work of radical welcome and hospitality, towards myself and towards Your world. Amen.