reassured that God is in control of their situation. Nothing in God’s creation is as permanent as stones. Natural stones and especially precious stones are a wonderful visual aid of the security enjoyed by those who are living stones. A popular twentieth century song informs us that ‘Diamonds are forever’ well almost perhaps, but not quite. They are not eternal—we are! So, says Peter, you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood (v. 5). ‘Living’ is better
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