"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer
Saturday, August 5, 2023 - Day 217 - (Today’s Bible readings: Jeremiah 49:34-39; Psalm 35; Ephesians 3:1-13)
JESUS IS YOUR FOUNDATION
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV)
Paul is giving us a picture of the Church, built on the truths of Holy Scripture. His reference to the “foundation of the apostles and prophets,” clearly means the New and Old Testaments of the Bible. And in what direction does the entire Bible point? It points us to Jesus, “the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”
The cornerstone of Paul’s day was not merely a symbolic container of historical documents. The weight of a building rested on the cornerstone. In fact, if you removed it, the entire building would collapse.
The same is true for Christianity. If you removed Jesus and His cross, it all collapses. The holy life, innocent death and triumphant resurrection of Jesus are at the heart of our faith. Oh how blessed is everyone whose life is built solidly on Jesus!
Christ is our cornerstone,
On Him alone we build;
With His true saints alone
The courts of heav'n are filled.
On His great love our hopes we place
Of present grace and joys above.
(Christ Is Our Cornerstone, Lutheran Service Book, CPH, 2006, #912 stanza 1)
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for making Jesus the cornerstone of Your Church. May my life remain built solidly on Jesus so that I may always be blessed with Your love, hope, grace and joy. Amen.
“See” you in church tomorrow!
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
No comments:
Post a Comment