So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Ephesians 2:19-21
You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
1 Peter 2:5-6
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Christ is not just another stone in a long line of prophets and apostles. No, He has a special place. Our salvation rests on Christ. He is our sure foundation on which the community of God is built. Without His foundation, we would be on sinking sand.
The cornerstone anchors structures. And so our lives are anchored by Jesus. When doubts assail, or questions fly, to whom do you turn? We can trust Jesus, our Cornerstone. He is the foundation of our faith and He is faithful!
We are stones, living stones, being built up into a temple. Individually and collectively we are spiritual houses. And as in temples of old, God calls us to make just one sacrifice – to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Not for atonement … the sacrifice of Christ has paid the penalty for our sins. Instead, our sacrifice is the sacrifice of true worship!
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord and precious,
binding all the church in one;
holy Zion’s help forever,
and her confidence alone.All that dedicated city,
dearly loved of God on high,
in exultant jubilation
pours perpetual melody;
God the One in Three adoring
in glad hymns eternally.To this temple, where we call thee,
come, O Lord of hosts, today:
with thy wonted loving-kindness
hear thy people as they pray;
and thy fullest benediction
shed within its walls alway.Here vouchsafe to all thy servants
what they ask of thee to gain,
what they gain from thee forever
with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in thy glory
evermore with thee to reign.Laud and honor to the Father,
J. M. Neale, 1861
laud and honor to the Son,
laud and honor to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One,
One in might, and One in glory,
while unending ages run.
As you meditate on the scripture today, praying through the hymn, thank God for being your sure foundation.
