Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
Peter, as Jesus frequently did, paints a picture that those of his time would clearly understand - a cornerstone. Everyone knew that for a building to be structurally sound, its foundation had to be on something solid and secure. Not uneven, shifting under the weight, or subject to cracking. A stone that you could anchor your structure to knowing that it would provide reliable long-standing support. Jesus was that Cornerstone. Isaiah calls Him “a choice stone” and “the precious stone”. David prophesied that this would be the stone “that the builders rejected”. What could be truer? A life built on this Cornerstone is significantly different than those that are not. It only takes about 2 minutes to notice this difference. Through my life of work in the medical field, I, unfortunately, have witnessed hundreds of people passing from this life to the next. I can attest, with absolute certainty, to the difference one can immediately recognize in those with a life built on this Cornerstone.
In verse 9, Peter compares our old self (darkness) and our new life (marvelous light). Not just light, but marvelous light. Webster defines marvelous as causing wonder, astonishing, and notably superior. Allow me please to add my moment of clarity here. I was reading a book one time on spiritual warfare. It was a pretty heavy book that described the spiritual warfare evangelists experienced in South American countries that are steeped in demonic activity. I remember being very bothered by this and found myself very restless one night. God showed me that although dark and light are opposites, they are not equal opposites. The smallest light illuminates the dark. If you go to the Superdome, cut all the lights out to make it completely dark, and light a candle on the 50-yard line, you will clearly see it. Now, cut all the lights on, go to the 50-yard line, and open a shoe box filled with darkness. What happens? NOTHING!! Marvelous light. Able to overcome the darkness. Every time. Every situation.
Peter then encourages us to let that light shine in our everyday life. Live in a manner that those around you think you must be up to something - a manner that they can’t figure out but makes them want some of it. Your boss doesn’t bother you because you really aren’t working for him. The government doesn’t drive you crazy because they are only in office because your God allows. Live like your Cornerstone is unshakeable. Live that life.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.