Our Cornerstone

Wikipedia explains a cornerstone as follows: ‘The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a stone- or brickwork foundation, important since all the other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure’. Webster’s College Dictionary also describes it as the foundation on which something is constructed or developed.

Ephesians 2:20 is another reference to Jesus as the chief cornerstone, ‘In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit’ (Ephesians 2:21-22). Today’s scripture, where the Lord refers to Jesus as a precious Cornerstone, is also foretold in Isaiah 28:16.

Jesus told the Jews: ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up’ (John 2:19). This confused them, but actually the temple Jesus had spoken of was His body. He knew that the cornerstone was already set in place before the destruction of the temple; before His crucifixion. After He’d risen from the dead, His disciples remembered what He’d said (verse 22). Jesus knew that His Father had chosen Him as a precious cornerstone for us to believe in, adhere to, trust in and rely on.

‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?’ (1 Corinthians 6:19). ‘In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit’. (Ephesians 2:21-22). We’re living stones being built on the cornerstone.

Each one of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit and we have Jesus Christ as our cornerstone. He is the one who leads us, strengthens us and keeps us together through all the difficult times and challenges we may face. Even before we were born, our cornerstone was set in place. Referring to the Wikipedia explanation, He is the cornerstone which determines our position, and helps us grow as temples of the Holy Spirit, as holy sanctuaries in the Lord (Ephesians 2:22).

Prayer: Dear Lord, it’s such an encouragement to know You are my cornerstone. When the storms of life come, You’re my safe place and my strong foundation. You’re the rock that I stand on. I believe in You, trust You and rely on You. You determine my position in every battle and every situation. I believe in You, trust You and rely on You. Amen.