I receive a daily devotional from Crosswalk.com on"PRAYING THE NAMES OF JESUS" from the book by Ann Spangler.
I recently shared one at "The Lighthouse of Prayer" so those who come would join in praying the name of Jesus for that week.
This past week the NAME to focus on throughout the week was:
Ann Spangler explains THE NAME "CORNERSTONE/ CAPSTONE" like this:
The Name
Stones were used for building altars, homes, palaces, and temples. When "capstone" or "cornerstone" is mentioned in the Bible, it refers to a particularly important stone that held two rows of stones together in a corner, one that stabilized the structure at the foundation, or one that formed the keystone over an arch or at the top of a roof parapet. In order to hold the structure together, the cornerstone had to be perfectly fitted for the task, both strong and well shaped. A flawed or poorly cut stone would compromise the building's integrity
Jesus is the Cornerstone or Capstone to which we are joined as living stones. Together we form a spiritual house in which God can dwell.Key Scripture
As the foundation stone on which God is building his kingdom, Jesus is strong enough to hold everything together. He is also the fitting conclusion to all God's work. When you pray to him as the Cornerstone, you are praying to the One on whom you can base your life.
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'?" Luke 20:17
As the EASTER season is quickly approaching, it is so right for us to be reflecting on the Name of JESUS and the Names of Jesus like CORNERSTONE/CAPSTONE
Here are the PROMISES in SCRIPTURE:
So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
"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
If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. . . . "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9, 13
Continue to PRAY AND PRAISE HIM as we...
Rely on the Lord, who is your rock and refuge. (Psalm 18:2)
Praise Jesus, who has become the cornerstone. (John 2:13 - 20)
Recall that there is only one foundation. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Remember that you are no longer your own. You are a living stone, being built into a spiritual house. (1 Peter 2:4 - 9)
Repent so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. (Acts 3:1 - 4:12)
Pray for God's chosen people to believe in his Son. (Luke 19:41 - 44)
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
Psalm 127:1
Psalm 127:1
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
Matthew 7:24 - 27
As You Reflect On: Matthew 7:24 - 27.
Praise God: Because He cannot be shaken.
Confess: Any fear you may have about the future.
Offer Thanks: For all the ways Christ has steadied you in times of trouble.
Ask God: To increase your confidence in His love and care.
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The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,he is the one you are to fear,he is the one you are to dread,
and he will be a sanctuary;
but for both houses of Israel he will be
a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people
of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare.
Isaiah 8:13 - 14
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." Matthew 24:1 - 2
and he will be a sanctuary;
but for both houses of Israel he will be
a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people
of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare.
Isaiah 8:13 - 14
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." Matthew 24:1 - 2
Reflect On: Isaiah 8:13 - 14 and Matthew 24:1 - 2.
Praise God: For dwelling with us.
Confess: Any patterns of self-reliance that keep you from relying on God.
Offer Thanks: That God is a refuge for you.
Ask God: For the grace to be a refuge for others.
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Reflect On: Luke 20:9 - 19 and Romans 9:30 - 32.
Praise God: Whose plans and purposes endure forever.
Confess: Any tendency to water down the gospel or reduce it to a list of dos and don'ts.
Offer Thanks: That God did not give up on us.
Ask God: To renew your faith in Jesus.
****************
As we read and reflect on Luke 20:9 - 19
Understanding the Name
When Jesus quoted the passage from Psalm 118:22, referring to the stone the builders rejected, he was pointing to his rejection by the Jewish nation and its leaders. But despite their rejection, God's purposes could not be thwarted.
In fact, the master builder would make Jesus, through his death and resurrection, the Akrogoniaios Lithos (ah-krogo-nee-EYE-os LI-thos), capstone or cornerstone, on which he would build.
The New Testament portrays the whole community of believers as a holy temple in which God dwells.
To those who reject Jesus and his saving message, he will be not a cornerstone but a stone of stumbling, because rejection of God's chosen one inevitably brings judgment.
As an interesting side note, the royal name was often inscribed on the cornerstone, and among the ancient Canaanites before the time of Joshua, the laying of the foundation stone was often accompanied by human sacrifice. Tragically, a number of skeletons, especially those of small babies in earthen jars, have been found at various sites.
Lord, Jesus, You are the cornerstone on which God is building. I pray that You will help me to build my life on You in a way that makes me a vital, living stone, so that I may be part of God's dwelling place on earth.
What do you think it means to build your life on Jesus as the Cornerstone?
What does it mean that Jesus is a stone that people will fall on?
Next week the Name of Jesus: Bright Morning Star
1 comment:
Jesus is the foundation of what I believe in...His teachings, the way He lived His life, is the corner stone by which I hope to live by life daily, to be molded and formed into His image in my thoughts, words and actions.
I so desire that more would not harden their hearts like a rock, but accept Jesus as their Lord. Without Jesus, I fear that they will continue to stumble through their lives. Some searching aimlessly, others jaded, and still others with no idea. I fear the judgement of rejecting Jesus will fall on far too many and it is/was our responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus!
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