"Our Cornerstone" September 8 Readings: Isaiah 27-28, 1 Corinthians 10:23–11:16, Psalm 105:9–15, Proverbs 22:13–14

Today's Readings - Isaiah 27-28, 1 Corinthians 10:23–11:16, Psalm 105:9–15, Proverbs 22:13–14

Devotional - Our Cornerstone

've served on the leadership team for our state convention for more than half of the nearly 25 years that I have served in Iowa as a pastor. At one point, I joked that I was going to make a motion to the convention recommending that we encourage our churches not to use the name "Cornerstone" anymore. It seemed that every new church we had was taking it for a time.

But in reality, there are few better names for a church than that! It comes from Isaiah 28:18 (and other verses), which says:

Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,

a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;

the one who believes will be unshakable. 

God has set down for his people a foundation for their nation, a cornerstone, one tested and tried. We find out in the New Testament that the true cornerstone for our lives is Jesus Christ - he is the one tested by the suffering of the Cross who provided the eternal foundation for our lives.

A cornerstone was the key to any building in that culture. For us, a cornerstone is generally only cosmetic, something with a plaque commemorating the building of the building. We dig footers and pour concrete foundations for our buildings. But buildings in that day rested on the cornerstone. It was large, heavy, and stable. The weight and structure of the building rested on it. If the cornerstone was weak, or misplaced, or wobbly, the building would not stand strong. 

There is only one foundation for our lives. We can try to establish our lives on money, but that foundation will crumble. Entertainment is fun (duh) but it is no lasting or firm foundation for our lives. Ambition, fame, anything this world offers cannot be an adequate foundation for our lives. But Jesus is the cornerstone. the sure foundation for our lives. 

Why, when there is one foundation, one precious, tested stone on which our lives can be safely and permanently founded, do we so consistently seek the wobbly, weak stones of this world that give no security? Why? 

Father, may your Son be the foundation for my life, the cornerstone!

Think and Pray

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Of course, we will all SAY that Jesus is the Cornerstone of our lives, but what is the real foundation for you? What do you live for? What drives your existence?