Thursday in the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time

1 Peter 2:6-8

The Cornerstone

Yesterday, we discussed this new temple made of living stones; but, those stones live only because they have come to the Living Stone.  This Living Stone is here called the “Cornerstone—chosen and precious.”  It is, of course, a reference to Christ Jesus—the foundation of his Church which is his body and the new temple.  This Cornerstone and temple are established in Zion—not earthly Jerusalem (be it that city or any city of the world) which “is in slavery with her children” (slavery to sin and death), but the Jerusalem which is from above and free (Galatians 4:25-26).  Believers are being built together in this grand new temple whose real habitation is from above, though for a time we must travel below while we wait for our Redeemer and the fullness of our redemption (heaven).

But there is more here to see.  Isaiah prophesied that our Lord would be despised and rejected by men (53:3).  It is our honor that we believe, though that in itself is a work of God.  Still, through faith in him, this Cornerstone is to us most precious.  Through him, we will “not be put to shame” but vindicated on the last day.  We will be found to be in the right before the world through his shed blood and our profession of faith in him.  But Isaiah understood that many would not believe, and this is what the second part of the passage addresses: “`The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ (Psalm 118:22), and `A Stone of stumbling and a rock of offense’” (Isaiah 8:14).  Those who do not believe “stumble” over Christ.  Why do they stumble?  We could speak of their lack of faith, their hardness of heart, their preference for sin over godliness, indeed, any number of reasons. 

But Peter goes to the heart of the matter: “They stumble because they disobey the word.”  What word is that?  The word of the gospel.  Those who disobey the word, who do not embrace the gospel, are destined to stumble over Christ, and they do so of their own will.

When I consider matters, Christ would be easy to stumble over.  As I have said before, I would not believe the gospel had not the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin and convinced me of my need for Christ as he does for all whom he so saves (John 16:8-11).  I take no credit.  He is the Cornerstone and I receive my life from him—and I desire that it should be no other way.  My desire is to be a living stone in his temple—I don’t care where.  Bless God that we stumble not but have been made living stones in his holy temple.

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor

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