Daily Devotional: The One That Was Tossed Away

Hey fabulous friends! Welcome back! Today, we're diving into the daily devotional, sharing a quick uplifting thought to brighten your day.  If you have a moment, take a look at 1 Peter 2 in your favourite Bible translation before diving back into this post.

For those short on time, here’s a summary to consider: To those who believe, this stone is precious. But for those who don’t:

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

When reflecting on “the stone that the builders tossed aside,” I think about queer and trans people of faith. How often have we felt pushed aside or deemed irrelevant? How many times have we been labeled as divisive or told to wait our turn, or simply been told we’re not welcome? This exclusion comes from churches, families, and society at large. It’s something we encounter in the news and online.

Yet, the very stone that was rejected has become the cornerstone—the foundational support for everything else. Our marginalized identities, once discarded, become sources of strength and support. Those who reject us miss out on the richness we bring.

Once we weren’t a community, but now we are God's people. Every time we build queer community and look out for one another, we are establishing this new foundation. As we reflect on our journey and strive for justice and security, we remember that we are God’s people. Our strength lies in the very foundation that others might have tried to undermine.

Reflection Questions:

How does viewing your queerness or transness as integral to Christian community impact you?
In what ways has your faith evolved since embracing your identity?
What does it mean to you to hear “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession” in relation to your orientation or gender identity?

Practical Exercises:

Do something today to honor your identity.
Share an insight you’ve gained from your identity that might be beneficial to others.

That concludes today’s devotional! I hope this message has brought some positivity to your day. If it resonated with you, please consider sharing this uplifting content. Thank you for joining me today—remember to celebrate your unique self! Take care and stay positive until we meet again!

Footnotes:

Source: Kearns, S., & Murphy, B. (2020). "Queers the Word" - (Adapted for reflection of The Living Stone and a Chosen People). Scripture: 1 Peter 2

Image Title: "Rainbow Foundation" Source: Midjourney’s image generation model.

These daily devotionals are intended for personal inspiration and may be shared as needed, including via our RSS feed. Interpretations may vary, so we encourage thoughtful engagement with the content. Please attribute appropriately when sharing to maintain integrity. Please subscribe to receive updates via email.