WHAT IS THE CORNERSTONE OF YOUR LIFE

Acts 4:11-13

"He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

The reference Peter makes to "the stone you builders rejected which has become the capstone" refers to Psalm 118:22. Tradition has it that in Solomon's day during the construction of the temple, the engineers called the quarry for the capstone (cornerstone is another translation). They responded saying, "We sent it to you weeks ago." But the builders, not knowing what it was (it didn't fit), rolled it into the Valley of Gehenna -- the place where all the refuse or waste went. They went searching and indeed found it there, this vitally important component of construction -- upon which everything else is based.

In other words, they received something they didn't understand, so they rejected it -- sent it away with all the garbage. But Peter tells us, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men, by which we must be saved." This man Jesus, the foretold messiah -- like the capstone was thrown away -- yet had great value.

Verse 13 tells us that when the Jewish leaders saw the courage of Peter and John, as well as the scholarly approach to scripture they were astonished -- they took note of the fact these men had been with Jesus. I think those words are worth repeating, "these men had been with Jesus". We too are changed from the inside out when we spend time with Jesus.

Be honest with yourself, how much time do you spend with Jesus each day? If you are struggling in any area of your life, the solution will start with one-on-one time spent with the Lord. Begin slowly at first, commit to a time and a place, then stay committed. This time you spend with Jesus will become the most valuable part of your day. It will become the "cornerstone" in the construction of your life -- from which everything else is measured, adjusted, and built upon.

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