Ephesians 2.19-22 (5)
Pray Psalm 133.1, 3.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity…
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.
Sing Psalm 133.1, 3.
(Tryggare Kan Ingen Vara: Children of the Heavenly Father)
O behold, how sweet, how pleasant, when the brethren dwell together;
all in unity abiding find God’s blessing there presiding.
Read Ephesians 2.19-22; meditate on verses 20, 21.
How does a cornerstone function in a building?
Preparation
1. How did Paul identify Jesus?
2. What does that do for the building, the Lord’s “temple”?
Meditation
The cornerstone of a building gives shape to its construction. It guides construction both horizontally and vertically. In what sense, therefore, is Jesus the Cornerstone of our lives and churches? Here, perhaps, we can aim for succinctness:
Jesus gives shape and direction to us, individually and corporately (v. 20). It is thus important that we know Him, so that we might be conformed to His image.
He shapes us for lives of sacrifice (v. 13), that is, of self-denial and cross-bearing, without complaint or fear, focused on the promises and joy of the Lord.
He brings peace to us, individually and corporately (vv. 14, 17). Strangely but wondrously, the way of sacrifice is the way of peace (Heb. 12.1). We have peace with Jesus in Himself and as we work to reconcile all things to God (vv. 14, 16, 17, 18).
Jesus shapes us for righteousness (v. 15). He teaches us, by His own obedience to keep the Law of God unto love. The Law frames the good works He intends us to pursue (v. 10).
He creates community, one new Body/Nation/Temple (vv. 19-21). Our job is to work hard to maintain the unity Christ has achieved for us (Eph. 4.3).
Finally, He shapes us as a habitation agreeable to and fit for His Spirit (v. 22). We must therefore understand and submit to the work of the Spirit as He labors within us to refracts the life of Christ through us and fill the world with Jesus (1.9, 10, 22, 23; cf. 4.8-10).
No wonder Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“…Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief cornerstone
in Whom the whole building,
being fitted together
grows into a holy temple
in the LORD” (Eph. 2.20, 21).
When Jesus asked the disciples the question,
“Who do you say that I AM?”
Peter answered for them all,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Having answered correctly, Jesus replied, that on that truth—this Rock—
“I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16.15-18).
“For Who is God, except the LORD?
And Who is a Rock, except our God?” (2 Sam. 22.32)
“The LORD lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let God be exalted,
The Rock of my salvation!” (2 Sam. 22.47)
“Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily;
be my Rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me.
For You are my Rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your Name’s sake,
lead me and guide me” (Ps. 31.2, 3).
Paul, writing of the ones brought out of Egypt, and their trip through the desert, said:
“…all ate the same spiritual food, and drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them,
and that Rock was Christ”! (1 Cor. 10.3, 4). He has always been the cornerstone Rock.
Well, how do we do this? How do we become the building that Christ intends to be built,
with Himself as the cornerstone? How do we make sure that we are fitted together to become
the holy temple in the Lord? Think Legos.
Our engineer son-in-law Dave can put together a working computer; I mean, build it from scratch. I’m convinced he could fashion an entire working system out of kitchen gadgets and leftover things scrounged up from the basement. He is very amazing. But I have heard him instruct his children, concerning Legos, “Keep the pertinent instructions, in the box, with each individual project, or you will never be able to build it correctly again!” Those instructions would be the cornerstone to a successful build.
The Word of God, the Scriptures, the Bible, the Old and New Testaments—This Book—is the key to building something that resembles a “holy temple” in the Lord. Without it, we will be as confused as any child trying to rebuild a medieval castle with a huge pile of stray blocks.
God has a Plan. He has had it since before He ever created the heavens and the earth.
We will do well if we follow His Plan—the first step, in our successful build, being to worship the Chief Cornerstone—The Christ, The Son of the Living God—with His instruction Book held close to hand.
Thus, studied and followed, the Word of God guarantees a successful and secure construction, one that nothing can prevail against.
Reflection
1. When was the last time you reviewed your Bible reading and study practices? How will you know when these need to be improved?
2. How would you help a new believer become founded on the Rock of Christ and His Word?
3. How does Jesus function as the Cornerstone of your life?
He called this stone a cornerstone not merely because it is at the corner but because it is the first and most important stone. From it begins the foundation of the corner which joins and couples two things to make them one. Souls above already with Christ are united together with those that live in holiness and receive Christ in a mystery that is present. Souls below that are Christ’s, including those of the Gentiles, are also joined by that cornerstone, Jesus Christ. Marius Victorinus (28-363), Epistle to the Ephesians 1.2.20
Pray Psalm 133.2, 3.
Pray that Jesus, the anointed Messiah of the Lord, will flow through His Body, the Church, to make you, your church, and all churches more like Him, our Cornerstone.
Sing Psalm 133.2, 3.
(Tryggare Kan Ingen Vara: Children of the Heavenly Father)
Like the precious oil of blessing flowing down on Aaron’s vestment,
God’s anointing rests forever where His people dwell together.
Like the dew of Hermon’s fountain falling down on Zion’s mountain,
so the blessing of the Savior dwells where unity finds favor.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we are looking at ways the Law of God applies to our lives. This week our Read Moore podcast continues addressing the question raised by our book, What in Heaven Is Jesus Doing on Earth? This week our Crosfigell teaching letter begins a study of the life of Brigit, a contemporary of Brendan. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
