Cornerstone
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Today’s Text: Psalm 118:8-29 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
The greatest security is found not in people or the things of this world, but in God alone. The psalmist boldly declares that it is far better to trust in the Lord than in human beings or earthly rulers. People may disappoint us, circumstances may change, and our own strength will eventually fail, but the faithfulness of the Lord remains and endures forever. The psalmist recounts how he was surrounded by enemies and faced overwhelming opposition, yet he was still able to declare that the Lord was his strength and salvation. His victory did not come because he was stronger than his enemies, but because God fought on his behalf. The same God who delivered the psalmist is the same God who faithfully delivers His people today.
In ancient times, when a building was constructed, the first and most important stone laid was the cornerstone. Every other stone was measured and aligned from it. If the cornerstone was misplaced, the entire structure would become unstable. Builders carefully selected this stone because the strength, stability, and direction of the whole building depended upon it. If they chose the wrong stone, the entire structure would eventually reveal its flaws. The walls would no longer line up, the corners would not fit together properly, and the building would become unstable. The very stone they rejected was the one they needed all along.
This is exactly what happened with Jesus. Psalm 118:22 declares, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders and crucified, yet God raised Him from the dead and established Him as the Cornerstone of His kingdom and His Church. Though rejected by people, He was exalted by God. Today, Christ remains the only sure foundation for our lives.
Our culture constantly encourages us to build our lives on things that are temporary. While not inherently bad, they were never meant to be the foundation of our lives. Like a building with the wrong cornerstone, a life built on anything other than Christ will eventually become unstable when the storms of life come. May we examine our hearts today and ask ourselves, “What is the cornerstone of my life?" Only when Christ is our foundation will every other area of life be properly aligned and able to withstand whatever comes our way.
