ICS Daily Devotions
Christ Our Cornerstone
John 2:19-21(NKJV) Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
The Jews were shocked, offended and stumbled when Jesus spoke these verses to them.
Jesus was talking about the temple of His body made of living stones. There will not be only one High Priest offering sacrifices but a holy priesthood of believers.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
We place our trust in Jesus Christ based on all that He has accomplished on the Cross of Calvary and the power of His resurrection. The foundation of this spiritual house is Jesus Christ and He is the chief cornerstone that God has laid in His spiritual building. The cornerstone is inseparable from the building itself; supporting it, uniting it and adorning it. We are the living stones that make up the whole building. The spiritual sacrifices that we offer up to God are our bodies, souls, affections, our adoration in worship, prayers and intercession for the people who are yet to be saved, praises to Him for His faithfulness and sharing the Gospel to those who are yet to hear it.
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We have the responsibility to live out a holy and righteous life so that the people in the world will come to know Jesus during their day of visitation. Being a child of God living in His marvellous light, we can enjoy the abundant life now where there is joy in the midst of trials, pleasures and prosperity. When God blesses us, He adds no sorrow with it. We have peace with God because we know where we are going for eternity. We are just pilgrims on this earth waiting to go to our permanent home in heaven.
The unbelievers’ Day of Visitation is a day when man’s abilities, might and wisdom encounter an impasse and they realise that there is indeed someone greater. GOD! When they are at an impasse, dying or suffering from sickness, on the verge of bankruptcy, divorce, moral deterioration or living a life without hope which torments them, let them remember your life. As they do so, they will give glory to God and open their hearts to the Gospel.
It is important for them to see in you that Jesus is the answer to their lives. We are the living stones in the temple of God and Christ is the cornerstone.
Sermon Series – Holiness
