Stone Savior

I never really appreciated Christ as the "Stone-Savior" until the meeting Wednesday night. I always kinda glossed over it, not really paying any attention to it. But our Christ really is a solid rock!!!

Some points I enjoyed:

• "The stone which the builders rejected / Has become the head of the corner" (Psa. 118:22)
• On the day of His resurrection the Lord Jesus was made the cornerstone by God for the building up of the church—v. 24; Eph. 2:20.
• Christ was chosen by God in eternity past to be he cornerstone for God's spiritual building, but the builders rejected Him to the extent that they put Him on the cross—1 Pet. 1:20; 2:4.

It was encouraging to see that God's way of vindication is resurrection. When the pharisees asked for a sign, the Lord told them that no sign would be given except the sign of Jonah, which is a picture of the Lord's death and resurrection. So God chose Christ in eternity past, but in time He was rejected by men, crucified and put in the tomb. But God re-confirmed His selection in resurrecting this One on the third day! Now this One is the cornerstone for God's building, and everything He does in carrying out God's purpose is as the cornerstone!

So everything we do and are must go through the test of death and resurrection. We may be mocked, rejected and slain by men, but we should not fear this. Everything will eventually be tried, and whatever is natural will and should be buried and left, and whatever is of God will rise up in resurrection. Only what is of God can stand the test of death and come up in resurrection. 

I additionally enjoyed that although we have a "clay" nature, Christ is within us as a Living Stone. This Christ is solid and unshakeable! There are moments when you have a real realization that you are just clay, and you get discouraged... but as soon as you turn to the Lord, you touch this Rock, this Stone-Savior, and you realize that He's infusing you with His very nature, making you as solid as He is! Anyway, I'm speaking to myself... I felt like clay all this week, but the Lord in His mercy won't let me finish the week in this way. I may be clay, but what I am doesn't matter—what He is matters! And whether I like it or not, the Lord will carry out His transforming work! What He has begun, He will surely complete. Amen.

"Coming to Him, a living stone, rejected by men but with God chosen and precious, you yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." –1 Peter 2:4-5.

So many more points enjoyed... I need some time to digest them.