Precious Cornerstone

"So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;

the one who relies on it

will never be stricken with panic.

I will make justice the measuring line

and righteousness the plumb line;

hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,

and water will overflow your hiding place.

Your covenant with death will be annulled;

your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.

When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,

you will be beaten down by it.

As often as it comes it will carry you away;

morning after morning, by day and by night,

it will sweep through.'"

Isaiah 28:16-19

People have long justified themselves before God, attempting to prove their righteousness, their goodness, their fitness for escaping His wrath.  I've done it.  All mankind does it.  We ease our guilty conscious with lies, attempting to placate God with our works.  I may not be perfect, but I go to church almost every Sunday and give to charity.  I've never killed anyone.  That's got to count for something.  

Whatever the tactic used to try to bluff our way into God's good graces, it fails every time and proves to be a lousy foundation upon which to build a case before His righteous judgment.  What we need is a firm cornerstone.  And in Jesus we have just that.

Free.  If I'm going to live by the law, attempting to right my wrongs through good deeds or proving myself fit by my effort to comply with God's statutes, I'm dead meat.  No one is good, not even one.  Not Mother Teresa, the Pope or Billy Graham.  We all fall short of God's high standards (Romans 3:23).  None measures up.  All deserve punishment for the sin that comes naturally (Romans 6:23).

When I build my case before God on the cornerstone of Christ, however, I am made righteous and measure up by faith, not by my ability to perform (Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 2:8).  Through faith in Jesus, my case is dismissed, my sentence suspended, my charges absolutely dropped.  I will never need fear the judgment that is coming, then, for I'm free from God's condemnation in Christ (Hebrews 9:27, Romans 8:1).

I need not try to impress God with my efforts for I can be free from God's judgment by repenting of my sins and trusting wholly in Jesus (Romans 8:2).

Faith.  I often get it backwards, thinking I must do good, try my best, prove my worth.  I lose sight of all that Jesus accomplished on the cross where He secured my righteousness purely by the grace of God.  Instead of having to show how much I'm worth saving or keeping around, God already proved His unconditional love for me by providing a means for my salvation while I was deep in my sins and living as His enemy.  Any attempt I make to show how much I'm needed is like filthy rags in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6).  I just can't impress God no matter how hard I try.  My best is never good enough.

Instead of working so hard to climb up the ladder to reach God's impossible standard, I must get it through my thick head that my only hope is to enter into His rest where the necessary has already been accomplished, placing my full weight on the cornerstone of Christ (Hebrews 4:10).  When I solely trust in Jesus' blood to cleanse me of my sins and present me before God as righteous and pure, I have no need to show my worth (Colossians 1:22).  Jesus already did that by dying on the cross.  He went to such great lengths as to sacrifice His perfect life for my sinful one out of love.  If this doesn't show how precious I am to God, I don't know what will (Romans 8:32).

My acts of righteousness don't save me, but my faith in the only Righteous One does.

Secure.  With time, all man made structures fall.  No matter how well-built, it's not a matter of if it will one day collapse or be torn down, but when it will happen.  It's inevitable.  Yesterday's sign of progress is today's has-been.  No matter how firm the foundation seems, it will not stand the test of time.

There is one foundation, however, that will never crumble.  Jesus Christ .  When I place my trust in Him, putting Him on like a garment and forsaking my own sinful skin, I can be sure that my place in His kingdom is secure (Romans 13:14).  I will never lose my standing because He holds me there.  There is nothing that can take one of His sheep from His clutches (John 6:37, 10:28).  I need not doubt my place in the Lamb's book of life, therefore.  It is etched there in the blood of Jesus, of this I can be sure.  My only part, then, is to trust Him enough to live wholly submitted to Him.  He is more than able to make my footing on the narrow path sure (Jude 24-25).  May I always trust in His ability to keep me.

My place in God's kingdom is secure for all time based on what Jesus has done for me in dying on the cross.  There is nothing left for me to do but yield, letting Him have His way.    

     

It's natural for man to try to justify himself, to prove his worth, to show his value by what he does.  Instead of following suit, I can base my case on the firm cornerstone of Christ.  When I do, I'm free from God's judgment, saved by faith in His work on the cross, and secure in His kingdom.  Then I will know how precious is this Cornerstone!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust Jesus enough to rest fully in Him.

When do I try to prove how good I am?  Or show myself or others that I'm not that bad, despite what my guilty conscience tells me?

How am I afraid of the judgment that is to come?

True Security

"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

but whoever listens to me will live in safety

and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Proverbs 1:32-33

We live in a tumultuous time.  Terrorism threatens, "progressive" agendas violate traditional values, and foolishness is disguised as wisdom.  How can we be safe and secure in such a time as this?  How can we keep from being swept away?  

It is possible.

Turn Toward.  Life is a journey.  I've heard it often, so frequently in fact that it's easy to dismiss it as a meaningless cliche.  But life really is a journey, a series of steps, a trip down a rocky path that often becomes difficult to negotiate and hard to navigate (Matthew 7:13-14).  I easily get off track, wandering away from the way He marked out for me to walk, enticed by worldly temptations, fleshly desires and the Devil himself.  

Since it's so easy to turn away from God and His plan for me, it's important that I constantly take the time to take stock, to inventory my heart.  Of course, this is not a job I can do using my own faulty discernment.  Instead, I find it vital to sit down in the peace of my Father's presence and ask Him to show me where I'm off, how my thinking is wrong, where I've strayed (Psalm 139:23-24).  Once He shows me, and He has never failed to do so and can always be counted on to answer this prayer, I can turn back toward Him and His loving Hand of correction.  He will direct me toward the way everlasting, the pure and lovely thoughts, and the healthier coping mechanism.  

To find true security in such a volatile world I will need to make it a practice to turn toward God.

Passion.  My relationship with Jesus can easily become a religion; a series of obligations I must fulfill, a set of rules I must follow, a regimen I'm expected to adhere to.  But Jesus died for more than this.  His love for me is so intense that it drove Him to undergo great agony for my sake.  In order that I might live and taste the life He meant for me to live when He first breathed life into my inert form, Jesus gave His own.  Even though He never sinned, is pure as could be, He took my sin upon Himself, suffering the agony of bearing the punishment meant for me (2 Corinthians 5:21).  This is how strongly and passionately He loves me.

I can love like this as well.  Not in my own strength, but because God's brand of love flows through me by faith in Jesus.  If I allow God to have His way, He will develop in me a similar passion for Him which will overflow with a compassion for others.  Instead of just learning His ways, then, I'll be driven by love to put it in action, to let Him move my hands and feet in ways that demonstrate His great love.  The hungry will be fed, the broken given hope, the imprisoned set free.  

To find true security in such a volatile world I can let God's great love for me develop into a passion for Him and His image bearers.

Heed.  Either I'm too busy to hear or I'm too afraid to listen.  The first is an unintentional blocking of God's voice, the second a deliberate effort to ignore Him.  

When my days are filled with errands to run, activities to participate in, tasks to perform, I rarely sense His leading or notice His hand at work around me.  Instead, I'm too intent on sticking to my schedule.

I'm not always busy, though, and it would seem those quiet moments would be the ideal atmosphere for hearing God's voice.  Unfortunately, I all too often am plagued by fear, assuming the message He has for me will hurt me, or that He'll expect me to do what I don't want to do, or that I just won't be able to handle His rebuke.  So I pretend I don't hear Him, or do what I can to divert my attention away from Him.  How I must hurt Him in my self-preserving efforts.  As my loving Father He has my best interest at heart and knows exactly what is best for me.  I can trust Him with my life and I have no reason to fear.  Fear is a choice I make that hampers intimacy with my Papa.

To find true security in such a volatile world I must learn to heed God's gentle promptings and expert lead.

It's easy to feel hopeless, wondering if it's even possible to live a life of integrity when the world seems to be falling down around me.  How can I stand firm and keep from being sucked into living in fear, adopting popular worldviews, or being shaped by foolish rhetoric?  I can purposefully allow God to search my heart for what doesn't belong and responsively turn toward His best, allow God's love to develop in me a passion for Him and people, and to heed His lead.  When I do, I will find true security despite the volatile nature of the world.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to listen to what He is saying to me.

When am I afraid to hear what He wants to say to me?

How do I intentionally keep myself busy so I won't have to deal with His correction or His conviction?

     

His House, His Way

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Psalm 91:1 NLT

What does it look like to dwell in God's protection, in His hiding place, in His house? Sometimes I think I must wait until heaven to find out what that's like, but the truth is that I can live there now. In the midst of the evil and chaos that swirls around me, I can rest in His wonderful home.

To live in the protection of His presence is where I'm meant to be.  But I don't automatically dwell there.  Just because I'm made in His image doesn't mean I'm ushered through the foyer of His mansion and into His living quarters. Simply due to the fact that I accepted Jesus as my Savior doesn't guarantee me a ticket there either.  In order to find my place in His home, it is necessary for me to let Him rule me, to allow Him to be my Lord instead of me taking control of my own life.  To live in my Father's house, I must agree that it's His House so things go His way.

What are the benefits of such an arrangement?

Deliverance.  "For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.  He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection." (Psalm 91:3-4 NLT)  

Living in my Father's house means I'll be liberated from the destructive ways I cope with life.  I could use alcohol to numb my aching heart, to enable me to endure another day of the hurts I hold deep inside.  Or I may try drugs to anesthetize my mind so I don't have to think about my present circumstances and my past failures.  Or it could be that even though the abuse I receive is bad, I've convinced myself that it's better than being alone, so I accept it as normal.  Or my body could be taken over by one who hates me and wants to destroy me, giving me no choice but to do his bidding.

Whatever my mode of survival, my Father will deliver me from such captivity, drawing me close to His breast as his precious child.  When I surrender to Him, He'll rescue me from the snare that holds me captive or the deadly pestilence that is slowly killing me.  He sent Jesus to rescue such prisoners as I (Isaiah 61:1-3).

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find deliverance from all that holds me captive.

Protection.  I can't sleep.  When the sun goes down my terror rises up like a beacon, calling me to pay homage to her.  All that plagues me keeps me up at night, pacing, worrying, fretting.  So much could happen, my life hangs by a thread, balancing precariously on the edge of a cliff.  One wrong move and I'm a goner (Psalm 91:5-8).

Even though there is much to fear in this world, I need not be afraid.  Why?  How could I possibly live at peace when there is so much to threaten me?  I can be at rest no matter where I am because I have a Father who protects me.  He has me hemmed in, going before me like a guide and following behind me like a guard (Psalm 139:5).  My loving Father also has His hand of blessing on my head, constantly releasing a flow of goodness into my life.  Under such protection as this, I need not fear, no matter what I see around me (2 Corinthians 5:7)! 

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find protection from all that threatens me.

Security Detail.  The President of the United States has men constantly at his side, making sure no threat can get to him.  He also has a crew of personnel who go before him, sweeping an area of danger, giving him a clear path to walk and move about in that day's planned activities.  Backgrounds are checked of all that will come into contact with him, the physical surroundings are wiped clean of any and every possible hazard, and any risky obstacles are removed before his arrival.  In short, the Secret Service is there to preserve the life of their charge.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ who has decided to abide in my Father's will for my life, I also have such a security detail who protects me wherever I go (Psalm 91:9-13).  Who knows how many times in my life that attacks against me have been thwarted or threats have been removed?  I bet I've had dozens of close calls where God's angel warriors and protective spirits have shielded me from harm.  To think that God has an entire battalion of angels ready to jump into action on my behalf gives me great comfort.

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find a security detail that keeps me safe from all that threatens.

I don't automatically live in my Father's House, but I can dwell there if I give up trying to control my own life and let Him have His way.  When I do, I'll find that I am delivered from my destructive patterns, protected from the harshness of this world, and given my very own security detail as I walk unscathed through the battles of life.  In these ways I'll discover my Father's attentive love for me, but only if I choose His way over mine.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with every detail of my life.

When do I fear what God is already protecting me from?

How am I failing to trust God in the midst of the threats, instead choosing to fear?

The Risk of Comfort

"When I have brought them into the land

flowing with milk and honey,

the land I promised on oath to their ancestors,

and when they eat their fill and thrive,

they will turn to other gods and worship them,

rejecting me and breaking my covenant.

And when many disasters and calamities come on them,

this song will testify against them,

because it will not be forgotten by their descendants.

I know what they are disposed to do,

even before I bring them into the land 

I promised them on oath."

Deuteronomy 31:20-21

They were on the cusp of seeing the promise they had so long awaited be fulfilled.  This new generation of Israelites, the children of the whining and complaining group of desert-wandering people, had heard all their lives about the land flowing with milk and honey.  They grew up with the assurance that God would one day, when the time was right, usher them into the land of their inheritance.  

Before they set foot in this glorious land, however, God wanted to make sure they were fully aware of His expectations for them.  After He laid down the law, instructing them directly in His ways, He ended with a warning.  The caution was centered around a tendency for the human heart to stray when times are good.  When they were wandering around the desert, directly dependent upon God for their sustenance (manna and quail), clothing (supernaturally preserved) and guidance (pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by day), it was necessary for them to stay focused on their Provider.

Once they entered into the land promised to them, however, times would get easier.  They would live in houses they did not build, eat from gardens they didn't plant and enjoy the fruits of someone else's labor. (Deuteronomy 6:10-13) They would get comfortable.  

When things start to go well, the sinful human heart tends to turn away from God.  It is this treacherous tendency of which God warns.  Thankfully, there is an antidote given for this malady.

Faithfulness of God

"I forgot."

This was often the excuse one of my daughters would give when confronted about her unfinished chores.  While the human memory often fails, God's never does.  

No matter how faithless I tend to be; going my own way, depending on my own strength, and focusing inwardly, God never forgets His promises.  My weakness does not in any way diminish His strength.  My sin never takes away from His holiness.  My waywardness doesn't negate His persistence.  

Therefore, my success in His kingdom depends completely on Him and not on me.  Like He told Paul, His grace is enough for me and His power is evident when I give up in my own labors.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)  When I surrender my life into His hands, He grows to take up a more prominent place in my life.  Once I get out of the way, He can truly show His power.  Until then, my efforts block His work from manifesting in my life.

It is important, then, that I admit to my failings, am honest about my inabilities and stop trying to put up a strong front.  Pretending like I've got everything under control does not bring glory to God.  Showing my weaknesses by living transparently before God and others, admitting of my need for Him does.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must keep connected to the God of faithfulness.

Remember

My dad loves to tell stories of his youth.  He recounts the adventures he experienced, the people he encountered, and the hard times he endured.  Hearing about his life helps me to better understand him and the legacy he is leaving his family.

It is important that I use this same practice when it comes to the Lord.  When I talk about His mighty works, recounting all the ways He has provided, comforted and prevailed, I leave a legacy of faith to those who are listening.  As the years go by, these tales may seem like a distant memory or a kind of fairy tale, but the practice of telling the story keeps alive the legends of God's greatness.

For this reason, I make it a practice to keep a "Stones of Remembrance" journal.  Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to enter into the Promised Land, God instructed them to collect twelve stones, one for each tribe, and erect them as an altar of remembrance for generations to come.  Whenever children would see the pile of rocks, they would inquire of its significance and those present would have the opportunity to tell how God parted the waters to provide a way for them to enter into the land in which they now live. (Joshua 4:1-7)  In the same way, I keep a record of God's mighty works, big and small, to serve as inspiration in times to come.  

It is good to remind myself and others of how God has provided in the past when I reach a time of want.  When times of loss come, it is beneficial to look back at the comfort God has given during other periods of grief.  If I reach a moment of crisis, it helps to keep in mind the strong leadership my Shepherd has provided in days gone by.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must make it a practice to remember the works of God.

Sovereignty of God

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make it work.  I had the dream of digging a pond for the duck our neighbor gave me.  Even though I was just a kid, I wanted to give my new feathered friends the joy that came from paddling around a body of water.  So, I got to work digging a sizable hole.  Once it was big enough, I ran the hose until it reached the hole and filled it up.  Much to my dismay, the water quickly soaked into the ground.  Without the help of an adult who knew about building ponds, my efforts were for naught.

In the same way that I couldn't reach my goal only with what little know-how I possessed in my young mind, there is no way for me to succeed in life without the Lord. (Proverbs 16:1-9) Nothing happens outside of His will, so if I want to live a life of peace and purpose, I will need to pay attention to His instructions and His leadership.  In the same way that my project failed in my own feeble attempts, so will my life if I rely only on my own understanding and common sense.

Formulating a plan, then, is not what it takes to live a life of meaning that will bring glory to God.  Wanting to do something of worth and value with my life will not get me to my goal.  Taking the steps I think are necessary to please God will do nothing to bring pleasure to Him.  Instead, I must seek God wholeheartedly, relying on His sovereign plan to give me my marching orders.

This means when I want to charge full-steam ahead, I may need to reign in my enthusiasm and wait for the go-ahead from the Master Planner.  I will also find that in the times when I'm feeling vulnerable, God may have amazing feats of wonder to work out in my life in the midst of the struggle.  There is also the possibility that my sense of ill-preparedness is exactly what God will use to showcase His power.

If I want to resist drifting away from the Lord in times of comfort, I must keep in mind that nothing of significance can happen apart from Him.

Even though I desire ease and comfort, there is a risk in reaching such a plateau.  I would be wise, then, to heed God's warning designed to keep me close to Him, and guard against my tendency to drift.  As a result, it is my intention to stand firm on the faithfulness of God, remember His mighty acts, and live as if my life depended on Him.  In these ways, I'll minimize the risk of living a life of comfort and security.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep God in the foreground of my vision.

When do I let God fade into the hazy distance?

How do I try to make things happen on my own, neglecting to consider God's sovereign plan?