One of the delights of grand-parenting is recapturing the joys of childhood. In the name of entertaining the little ones, we get to return to such fun activities as drawing with crayons, molding Play-Doh, and building with blocks.
Little eyes watch in wonder as we sketch a flower, create a clay nest of eggs, or fashion a tall tower. It doesn’t take much to wow the little tykes.
Just the other day I demonstrated for our toddler granddaughter the first rule of constructing block skyscrapers: A solid, level foundation is a must. Without that strong base, the tower will lean and fall.
For centuries, the success of constructing real buildings depended on one foundation stone in particular: the chief cornerstone. Without the sophisticated tools of today, stone masons had to be certain that first stone was level and its corners squared accurately. The rest of construction conformed to that one stone. If the cornerstone was faulty in any way, the building would lean and fall.
The chief cornerstone also carried the weight of the structure. If laid properly, the weight of the building was evenly distributed and the structure remained sound.
Scripture tells us that Jesus is our cornerstone. God said,
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed” (Isaiah 28:16).
Oh, my. So much good news in one short verse!
The “stone in Zion” is Jesus, our Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), who has been tested for two thousand years. Billions of believers over the centuries have found him to be a trustworthy Savior, Shepherd, Friend, Prince of Peace, Teacher, and more.
Jesus is our precious cornerstone—highly valuable to us who believe in him. Think of the excellency of his character and his perfect, holy life. Think of his position. God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every other name in the universe (Philippians 2:9). Think of the myriad ways he blesses, guides, comforts, and strengthens us, his followers.
He is also our sure foundation—strong and reliable. In his divine power he gives us everything we need for life. We can depend on his great and precious promises (1 Peter 1:5).
Those who trust in him will never be dismayed; their lives will not topple and fall into ruin. However, commitment to obedience is crucial. If I’m not following his blueprint for life, as provided in the Bible, I’m not demonstrating trust. (Still working on that!)
Also important to understand: God’s architectural plan does not end with the placement of the chief cornerstone, his Son, in our individual lives. Each of us who believe in Jesus are like a stone or brick in the building of the Church universal.
The truth is, individual bricks by themselves are practically useless. They must be mortared together to realize their full potential. As Christians, we, too, must come together as the Church to realize our full destiny.
We become more significant, not less, as we gather to pray, encourage one another to lead godly lives, work together, and share with others the good news about Jesus.
We also become stronger, able to withstand storms and hardships because the stress from such forces is distributed over numerous bricks. We carry one another’s burdens.
Even better, we have a strong, sure foundation in Jesus. He is more than sufficient to carry the weight of our cares. On him rests the Spirit of power, which he dispenses on our behalf (Isaiah 11:2; Philippians 4:13).
* * * * * * * * * *
Thank you, Father, for the wonderful, rock-solid saints you have brought into my life over the years, shining examples of living stones, spiritually well-hewn, and set apart for your service. I’m thinking of family members, pastors, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, Bible study teachers, mentors, authors, friends. Countless saints have helped, encouraged, and challenged me to become a living stone for you also.
And oh, Lord Jesus, how I praise you for the sure foundation you provide in my life. When a storm of worry begins to stir, you offer reassurance of your power and strength. When I’m ready to topple from a multitude of cares, you uphold me. When fear wants to consume me, you soothe me with your Word. Over and over, with calm stability, you have steadied me. You are my foundational Rock.
(1 Peter 1:5; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 6:25-26; 1 Peter 5:7; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 18:31)
Photo credit: www.amberdusik.com.
From the Inside Out 
recapture the joy of childhood. wow what a gift of grandparenting. so be a child again, to live as a child of God again.so encouraging.
Thank you, Jean. Yes, one of the childlike qualities I aspire to is trust–my word for 2015!
Being the worrier I am shows that I need to work on trust as well. Thanks for this reminder that “the one who trusts will never be dismayed” (Isaiah 28:16).
God bless you for your honesty and humility, Cheri. That promise at the end of Isaiah 28:16 is a powerful one, isn’t it?