Stone buildings of great architectural renown are built upon a chief cornerstone. A cornerstone is the first stone to be placed above ground level. The structural integrity of the entire building hinges upon this stone as all others are built and joined together upon it. Laying the cornerstone of an important structure is often celebrated with ceremonial fanfare.

Children of God are likened in Scripture to living stones being built into a spiritual temple with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone (1 Peter 2:5, Ephesians 2:20). In Christ, the whole structure is being built to form God’s earthly dwelling place through His Spirit. We are that temple, dedicated to the sacred presence of God. As living stones, we are part of a chosen race, God’s holy and beloved children. Our purpose is to declare the wonderful deeds and display the perfections of Him Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. In this, God is greatly glorified.

Our relationship to the cornerstone, Jesus, is critical in fulfilling our God-exalting purpose. We are joined to Him by faith and we maintain that unity by coming to Him in daily communion. His Spirit teaches us Christ’s words of love and truth which God uses as divine mortar to build up our faith firmly in Christ. As we humbly obey His words, we are fastened more securely to the chief cornerstone, impervious to the shaking of the strongest earthquakes. Instead of collapsing, times of structural shaking see us rise higher and stronger, anchored securely upon the solid rock of Christ. He will strengthen us in holiness and use us to build up other living stones within the body of Christ.

Will you come to Jesus, offering yourself as a living stone? He has redeemed you for His holy purposes with His own blood, shed to deliver you from sin. Come to Him. Ask the Master Architect to forge you deeply to Himself. As others see Christ in you and choose to build their lives upon the precious Cornerstone, there will be great rejoicing in heaven. Together, we will reveal His light and glory.

“You are built upon 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 2:20-21

A vital component of any fruit-bearing plant is its root system. Roots absorb water and nutrients in order to ensure healthy plant growth. They also act as stabilizers, enabling plants to endure severe winds and storms that would threaten to destroy them.

We, as God’s children, possess new life. Christ dwells in us so that we might bear godly fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Abundant fruit production glorifies God and confirms that we are His children. Godly fruit production is dependent upon our root system being firmly anchored in the words and Spirit of Christ.

The soil of humility is the environment in which the roots of our being become strongly established in Christ. Recognizing our utter neediness for the holy life of Christ to exert power in us, we seek Him as our most vital necessity. Apart from Him, our root system quickly becomes diseased by the impurity of sin. Death to self and prideful ways allows the life of God to rise up in us. Others will live as we choose to be nourished by Christ.

Coming to Jesus in daily communion roots and firmly plants us in God’s love and truth. As we live in the soul-satisfying power of that great love, we will trust God enough to obey Him in all circumstances. In His unfailing love, the great “I AM” promises to work out the most impossible looking circumstances for our good, causing us to delight in obeying His words no matter how we feel.

Will you run to Jesus, rooting yourself more deeply in His truth, love and righteousness? When the storms of adversity come, they will be the fertilizer that is used to grow your root system more deeply into the boundless resources of Christ. As plant roots grow in the darkness of the earth, God will use seasons of dark trials to grow you in greater holy character as the roots of your being are deeply planted in Christ. In all seasons of life, you will bring forth an abundance of beautiful, godly fruit.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Colossians 2:6-7

Springtime is the season of awakening life. From the grey and death of winter, profusions of budding blossoms begin to bloom. Landscapes become magnificently arrayed in glorious color. What once was dead is now alive. Death is necessary to bring forth a season of new life.

In nature, God provides a visual parallel to the work that He accomplishes in the lives of His children. Once separated from Him, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. His Spirit awakened our souls from the deadness of living apart from Him. We were drawn to His everlasting love and mercy that were poured out on us through the giving up of His Son upon the cross of Calvary. Jesus’ death for our sins brought forgiveness and life to us. We were dead but now we are alive through faith in Christ.

God delivered us from sin and death in order to grow us up into His image as mature children, reflecting the beauty of His holiness. Jeremiah 31:3 and 20 tell us that God draws us to Himself by His everlasting love and kindness. His heart yearns for us to know His boundless love in ever-deepening experiential ways.

Just as the spring sunshine and rain cause new life to grow upon the earth, the Son of Righteousness is the source and sustenance of our new life in Him. As a flower turns its head towards the sun, we too must choose to keep our gaze fixed upon Jesus in steadfast communion with Him. As we respond to His love, obedience to His commands waters and nourishes the garden of our lives. Budding blossoms of goodness, righteousness and truth spring forth from our lives.

All seeds must die in order to germinate and produce life. Jesus bids you to follow His example in dying to sin so that His pure life may rise up in you. Will you humbly invite the Holy Spirit to daily till the soil of your heart with the words of Christ? The Master Gardener will cultivate in you a fragrant garden of abundant fruit.

“And The Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”
Isaiah 58:11

“Not good enough.”

For many of us these words have been our constant companion, a heavy weight, an unfortunate reality. They’ve rung in our ears like a musical note that’s off-key. They’ve flashed before our eyes like a bright neon sign.

This belief invokes a myriad of reactions. Some of us avoid new challenges and opportunities, accepting defeat before we make an attempt. Others of us strive diligently, doing whatever it takes to become good enough. The latter approach often produces in us a need to be noticed and praised. It breeds a self sufficiency that leads to boasting as we seek the approval of others.

Yet for those of us with this struggle, there is hope! The apostle Paul spoke to a people who “wanted to make a good appearance outwardly.” He said to them, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world…the only thing that counts is a new creation” (Galatians 6:14-15). The cross made it possible for Christ to live in us. Our identity no longer has to come from our abilities. Jesus, who is perfect, all-knowing and all-sufficient, has become for us everything we need. He is enough!

When you face challenging circumstances, striving to face them in your own strength will always prove to be overwhelming. As you place your trust in Christ, believing that through Him you can do all things, He frees you from the heavy load that He never meant for you to carry. You don’t have to be good enough. He becomes your strength, providing everything that you need to walk victoriously through your problems.

What you do apart from Christ counts for nothing. What Christ in you can do counts for everything.

In what ways are you feeling not good enough? Will you seek Christ as your “more than enough”? He delights in being your sufficiency (Eph 3:20).

In his early years as king of Israel, Solomon truly depended upon God. The responsibility of leading the nation overwhelmed him, causing him to cry out: “Now, O LORD, my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a child and do not know how to carry out my duties” (1 Kings 3:7). Solomon begged God for a discerning heart so he could govern the people well and distinguish between good and evil.

God’s response was lavish: “I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be” (1 Kings 3:12). Moreover, God gave Solomon blessings for which he did not ask. Sadly, in spite of God’s abundant provision, Solomon’s reign did not end as it started. Over time his heart turned toward other gods. By the end, the nation was on the verge of division and Solomon viewed life as meaningless.

What went wrong? Against God’s command, he married foreign wives. Eventually his wives and their idol worship turned his heart away from God (1 Kings 11:4). This exception ultimately led to his downfall.

We too are led astray when we allow areas of disobedience to exist in our lives. Sin can be enticing, luring us to places we never intended to go and exacting a price we never intended to pay. But we no longer have to choose disobedience. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. He lovingly reveals sin to us and gives us the strength to walk out of it as we ask Him. No sin in your life is exempt from God’s power!

Is there a sin you’re allowing to linger? Will you turn in repentance from it with no exceptions today?