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

Praying Your "Reach"

March 8, 2012 Life Discovery Ministries We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Last week Todd Ellingson spoke at our Monday night fellowship. I think we were all moved by Todd's stories as he told us about his ministry in Rwanda and the work he and his wife are doing there among the people in that beautiful country. Some would call it a mission field; Todd and Andria call it home. When I was young I used to worry about God calling me to the mission field. I didn't want to go. But in a way we are all called to missions, aren't we? It's part of belonging to the family of humanity around the globe. So how do we answer that call to missions? Jack Hayford encourages us to 'pray our "reach."' What he means by "reach" is that when we pray we should bring to God all those within our sphere of influence. These are all the people and places that are so often on our heart and, therefore, are given to us to pray for. We lift up our family and friends, our church community and our city; and we pray for our country. We also lift up to the Lord the greater circle of our human family around the world. Doing so enables us as "citizens" of the Kingdom of God to take up the sword and cut through the bonds of darkness. And now, because of Todd, we have a "reach" in Rwanda. We have the faces and places imprinted on our minds and hearts. We remember the children who have milk to drink because of the goats that are purchased and given out - one to each family. We remember the pictures of the women - the mothers and grandmothers - who are learning to sew on treadle sewing machines so they have a skill they can use to feed their households. We remember the men who have regained a sense of dignity by being hired to help build the new school and community center. Make Rwanda part of your prayers as you pray your "reach." Ask God to show you where your sphere of influence extends, and faithfully go there in prayer. We are the troops in this great battle, folks. Take up your sword! "I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 16:18-19 Greg

In the Grip of Grace

God is our Refuge and our Strength A very present help in time of trouble Therefore we will not fear though the earth should move Be still and know that I am God From Psalm 46

Have you ever tried to hold a little bird in your hands? I've done it and it is not easy, especially if the bird is injured or frightened. It will fight you at first and try to escape. You can often feel its tiny heart beating. It flutters and struggles, and to keep it from wiggling away you have to cup it in both of your hands, one on the top and the other supporting it on the bottom. You have to hold it just so - just tight enough so it doesn't fly away and just loose enough not to crush it. But if you are gentle and patient it will eventually settle down, sensing it is secure and safe in your hands. When we are injured or frightened, friends, we sometimes act like that little bird. We want to escape. We flutter. We struggle. But when we eventually realize we cannot help ourselves, then we are free to be still and see that our Heavenly Father holds us in a warm, safe place - just tight enough so we don't fly away and just loose enough so we are not crushed. And it is a grace-filled place to be. Have you ever been there? Some would call it surrender; I would call it the Grip of Grace. It is that place where nothing can touch us but the hands of God that surround us. It is surrendering to hands more powerful than we are, knowing that our strength is not sufficient and that in His grip alone will we find safety and rest. There are times when there is no better place to be than in the strong, gentle hands of our loving Father. "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) What do you do when you find yourself in the Grip of Grace? You be still. You rest. You wait. For He will most assuredly deliver you back onto solid ground. Do you hear me? Greg