Friday 10 October, 2014

4 Christ is the living Stone. People did not accept him. But God chose him. God places the highest value on him. 5 You also are like living stones. As you come to him you are being built into a house for worship. There you will be holy priests. You will offer spiritual sacrifices. God will accept them because of what Jesus Christ has done. 6 In Scripture it says, “Look! I am placing a stone in Zion. It is a chosen and very valuable stone. It is the most important stone in the building. The one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16) 7 The stone is very valuable to you who believe. But to people who do not believe, “The stone the builders did not accept has become the most important stone of all.” (Psalm 118:22) 8 And, “It is a stone that causes people to trip. It is a rock that makes them fall.” (Isaiah 8:14) They trip and fall because they do not obey the message. That is also what God planned for them.

Sometimes life is tough and it seems like everything is falling apart.

The most basic element of a home is its cornerstone or foundation. Without a sturdy “stone” in place, a house will shift and fall at the first storm. Without Jesus there is no church, no faith and no salvation. The Israelites of the day stumbled over the fact that Jesus was God’s only and precious son.

We often need to be reminded of the preciousness of Christ; because without Christ, we do not have peace with God, no salvation, no blessings of His Holy Spirit, and we would not understand that we are to be united as one body, one temple, with a single commission, all through Christ.

Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of my faith around which my life is built. Without Jesus Christ, I am nothing, and when I build upon that cornerstone, nothing can destroy my home. Because of Christ I am no longer alone; I am loved unconditionally, and accepted into God’s family. There is no shame, no fear of the future because my hope is in Christ. He is enough for every hurt, every habit, and every challenge in life.

Thank you Jesus that You have chosen me to become a living stone. Thank you that my life has purpose and significance. Together with the other living stones I have the privilege of building a living temple to honour You. Help me to fulfil my calling through Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit live out my calling to the end of my life. Amen

Written by Cathy Croft