Jesus Our Rock #Firm Foundation
Focus Scripture 1 Peter 2: 4-8
Come to Him [the risen Lord] as to a living Stone which men rejected and threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God. 5 You [believers], like living stones, are [a]being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOSEN STONE, A PRECIOUS (honored) CORNERSTONE,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son—the Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE [very] STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED
HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,”8 and,
“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed.
Come to Him; this is the epitome of life, to come, to know , to accept Jesus. When we stand on Christ Jesus, we do not rely on ourselves. Rather we rely completely on Him. Christ is the solid rock as King David reflects in Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Jesus contrasts the building of one’s life in his teachings of the wise and foolish. When we listen and obey God we are strong, we can stand through trial, testing and the challenging times that life presents. We are not strong in our selves but we are strong in the Lord. However, when we are not grounded in Christ we are easily swayed or persuaded against the truth. We cannot boldly stand for righteousness and can easily become overcome by the world and the things of it.
But we have been called, Come to Him, we must not conform to this world, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This is only possible in the hope we have in Christ Jesus, when we settle in Him trusting and relying on Him, He draws close to us. We begin to see differently. There is a shift, and we know our identity is in Christ. Science tells us that sight fundamentally takes place in the mind, and this is also very much true in the Spiritual We must see through the mind of our heart. We are commanded to love our enemies, to show forth compassion. To be servants and far from pride. These characteristics, this call to Christianity is opposite of the intertwining of our flesh which is self-centred and stubborn. In the world, living a life without Christ, it is so easy to become harden. Studies have identified learnt behaviour, we as people pick up on our surrounding and begin to display habits, patterns and behaviours of those around us. Perhaps for this reason the word of God commands us to be holy and separated. Apostle Paul also warned the Corinthian church to come out from among them and be separate, if we desire to be received by the Lord.
When we stand on Christ Jesus the Solid rock our firm foundation we find strength and power, we find guidance, deliverance and protection. We find hope and refuge. But these are afforded only to those who trust believe and obey.
We have been called to come to him and in our response, there is not only a drawing but there is a turning, a repositioning so that we can live in and stand on the solid rock the firm foundation. This is not something that we can do on our own, it requires Grace, it requires the Spirit, it requires surrender. For there is no freer place to be than caught up and captivated in the stronghold of God’s love,
In times of trouble, when the floods come and the winds blow I pray that you will be counted among the wise
So, let us Build on the Rock #Firm foundation
Scripture for reflection:
Nahun 1:7 strength is times of trouble
Matthew 7: 24-27 Build on the rock
Romans 12 :2 Not conformed but transformed
James 4:8 draw near to Him
2 Corinthians 5:21 identity in Christ
John 10:27 hear and obey