The Stone the Builders Rejected

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.     Edward Mote, circa 1834

Last week I wrote about the "tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;"  and He is Jesus. Wikipedia says the foundation stone is "...the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure." In fact, it is "...the most important part of a building - a crucial part of the foundation that anchors the whole structure." It's no wonder scripture would use this analogy to talk about Christ. Back in the days when Jesus walked the earth the process of building a stone structure began with the search for a suitable cornerstone for the construction. It was selected for its strength, beauty and size. Many stones were deemed inferior and laid aside until they found the stone they wanted. In Matthew 21:42 Jesus is talking to the self-righteous Jewish religious leaders of his time. He makes it clear to them that the kingdom of God will be given to those who respond to the Messiah:"Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.'" The rejection of Jesus as the Messiah is compared to the rejection of a stone because it was deemed unfit to be a cornerstone. It was set aside for something else -- for some other use -- just as Jesus was. When Jesus' atonement on the cross is rejected or disregarded, or when it is replaced by good works or another theology, then Jesus becomes a problem for people. For those who deny his deity and refuse to receive him, he becomes a stumbling block. Peter talks about this. So does the apostle Paul in Romans 9:32-33 when he is speaking about Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness but did not attain it: "Because they pursued it not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the 'stumbling stone.' As it is written: 'See I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall; but the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.'" Friends, we have searched and we have found the precious cornerstone. Christ is the foundation of the church and of every believer. His covenant of grace abides; his mercies are sure; his atonement of love on the cross is complete; and his promises are Amen and Hallelujah. May your Easter week be a glorious celebration of these truths. Greg

The Cornerstone

As we come to Him, the Living Stone, we also are being built into a spiritual house to be a Holy Priesthood    from 1 Peter 2:4-5

So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts in Him will never be dismayed."                                          Isaiah 28: 16 Thus Isaiah spoke - referring to Jesus way back in the Old Testament. What is a cornerstone? Our trusty Wikipedia says it is the foundation stone, "...the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure." In other places it is called a capstone, which refers to "...the most important part of a building - a crucial part of the foundation that anchors the whole structure." If you have ever laid a tile floor or set a patio using pavers you know how important that first stone is. If that first stone and that first row is not aligned properly, nothing goes right; the more you try to correct the pattern the worse it gets. By the end of the project nothing lines up the way you had planned. On the other hand, if the first stone or piece of tile is set correctly and firmly, everything else falls into place after that. The Bible has a lot to say about this cornerstone. You know what I'm talking about. We build the structure of our life one way or the other, either in line with the cornerstone...or not! One thing we know: If we are aligned with Christ and his purposes for us, our foundation is sure and our structure is anchored firmly. Anything else is built on a shaky foundation. I wish for all of us a fresh awakening of spirit that leaps in agreement with the apostle Paul when he proclaims "...Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord."  Eph. 2:20-21 Friends, what an amazing promise is hidden in these words. Blessings and Peace to you this week. Greg

God's Brew

Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee. St. Augustine

God's Brew Most of you know how much I love coffee. It's one of the great, simple pleasures of every day, and I thoroughly enjoy my "cuppa brew" every morning. Last week this story came across my desk from a chaplain friend of mine. The author is unknown. I think it's worth sharing. A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress and unrest in their work and in life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, plastic, glass, and crystal. Some were old and plain-looking; others were expensive and quite exquisite. He told them to help themselves to the coffee. When all of the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain, chipped, and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it's just more expensive; in many cases it's distracting. What all of you really wanted was the coffee - not the cup. Yet, you automatically went for the best cups; and then you began looking at what cups the others had. Now consider this: LIFE is the coffee. Your jobs, money, possessions and position in society are the cups. They are all just tools to HOLD AND CONTAIN LIFE. The type of cup we have does not define the life we live any more than the cup we drink from defines the coffee that is inside it. God brews the coffee -- not the cup. At first glance this story seems to be about not striving after a lavish lifestyle or a powerful position in society. If that were the case, we could all just dismiss it and say, "Oh well, they're talking about somebody else." But I think the lesson goes deeper here to the parts of us we try to ignore. I dare say most of us, if not all, occasionally deal with a certain amount of discontent over our lot in life. No matter what we have, someone always has it better, don't they? But we need to remember that the longing in our heart is not really for stuff. It is for God himself. Jobs, money, possessions, titles - you name it; in the end they do not satisfy. Our deepest longing, and the one that we must name and pursue with passion, is for our Father in heaven, the One who gives "rivers of living water" in dry places. (John 7:37) The next time you feel dissatisfaction; when life is dry and you have that feeling of restlessness and longing for something other than what is before you, cry out as King David did to the creator of all things: "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry, weary land without water." Psalm 63:1 What we long for is here, Friends. We need only to drink of the living water of LIFE. Enjoy your coffee! Greg