A Community of Grace »

Have you ever marveled at the sounds of songbirds? Their vocal cords are designed to produce diverse and elaborate melodies. Some large songbirds, like crows, lack a musical voice and communicate only with croaks and screeches that sound harsh to the human ear.

As children of God, our lives are to be a song of praise to Him. Sadly, a life lived devoid of constant communion with Jesus soon begins to emit discordant sounds. The cares and problems of this world produce worry. Rather than seeking God’s wisdom and power, we try to fix our problems in our own strength. Failed attempts at self-help often result in complaining, frustration and lashing out at others, like a screeching crow.

What is the secret to producing a beautiful song from our lives? We come to our heavenly Father, the Song Giver through Jesus Christ, our Chorus Master. We humbly submit to His Spirit and Word, allowing Him to train us in all of His ways. Using our voices to sing His melodies wherever He places us will produce joyful sounds that reverberate into eternity.

Will you come to Jesus and receive the melodic notes of joyful praise He longs to develop in you? The troubles of this world threaten to shut down your praises. As you cultivate a reverential fear of God, recognizing Him as your only hope and safety in the storms of life, He will keep you safe. Your life will become a song of praise, even in the darkest night.

“And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.”

Psalm 40:3

Have you ever fallen in love with someone? If so, you were irresistibly drawn to qualities in that person that captivated the affections of your heart. Perhaps it was their kindness, their sense of humor, the way you felt so loved by them. Imagining your future apart from them became unimaginable. In fact, when you were separated, thoughts of that person consumed your mind. You longed to hear their voice and to be in their presence.

Everyone was created for this kind of intimate love relationship with the God of the universe! The Bible tells us that we are the objects of His great, intense and wonderful love. We were designed by a relational God to know Him as intimately as He knows us and to be rooted deeply in His love.

How has God revealed His love for you? Like an ardent lover, He pursued you even when you had no interest in Him. He could not imagine living apart from you, so even while you were His enemy, He sent His only Son to bring you to Himself. Jesus humbled Himself to die on a cross as your sin substitute, reconciling you to the Father. He thinks of you constantly. He wants you to know His pure, holy and selfless love that has your highest good in mind. Jesus left the glory of heaven and the relational oneness He had with the Father and the Holy Spirit to draw you to Himself into intimate friendship.

Human love, tainted with selfish and impure motives, often fails us. Will you believe in and receive the pure love that God has for you? He invites you to come to Him through the person of Christ in trusting faith. He will never fail you, disappoint you or betray you. He will be your faithful companion and strength in all of life’s difficulties. As you experience His love, you will share in the radiance of your Lover’s beauty. As a result, others too, will be drawn into the ultimate soul-satisfying sacred romance.

“May you have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”   Ephesians 3:18-19

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