Showing posts with label Zechariah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zechariah. Show all posts

Who is Your Cornerstone?

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , , , , | Posted On Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 12:01 AM

In Luke 20 Jesus continues to teach and have encounters with the religious leaders. In vs. 17 Jesus asks his listeners, "…'Then what does this Scripture mean? "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone."'" Jesus is quoting from Psalm 118:22. It's interesting that both the prophets Isaiah (28:16) and Zechariah (10:4) made references to this "cornerstone." In the New Testament Matthew (21:42) and Mark (12:10) both quote Jesus on this same saying. Luke again quotes it in Acts 4:11. The Apostles Paul (Ephesians 2:20) and especially Peter (1 Peter 2:4-7) reference this same "cornerstone".

So, if this Psalm is quoted by Jesus, Isaiah, Zechariah, Paul and Peter, among others, it must have been significant. So, we go back to Jesus' question - what does it mean?

Jesus is applying this Psalm to himself. He has just entered Jerusalem (on what we call Palm Sunday) and faces his last week on earth. He knows that on Friday he will be rejected by the religious leaders and the government and even the people. He knows he will hang on a cross and die. He understands that his rejection is only days ahead of him. Yet, in spite of this "rejection," he will become the cornerstone of life and faith.

The cornerstone was the first and most critical stone laid in building a structure, because everything else was built from it and on it. If the cornerstone was improperly placed, the whole structure would be in jeopardy. So, the cornerstone was crucial.

Jesus is quoting this scripture to tell his listeners that rejecting him doesn't change his importance and significance. God placed Jesus as the cornerstone of life and living, and apart from him, life will never be all it can be.

Many of the people in Jesus' time rejected him, and many still reject him. They fail to realize who he really is and why he is so important. Sometimes it's intentional, but often it's simply from neglect or laziness. Yet, the day will come when everyone will know who Jesus is. Paul wrote to the Philippians: "Therefore, God elevated him (Jesus) to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (2:9-11)

Jesus is Lord and Master, whether we realize it or acknowledge it. But those who fail to acknowledge him will find that they built their life on something that will never support life now and for eternity. This isn't what Jesus wants, nor is it what his church wants. So, am I building my life upon the cornerstone? Have I chosen a cornerstone that is sure and true and strong? And what about those around us? Our goal and mission is to lead everyday people to build their lives on this cornerstone, this rock, that will withstand all the floods of life and remain standing into eternity. With so much at stake, how can we do anything less?

What are my motives for fasting and praying?

Posted by Randy | Labels: , , , , , | Posted On Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 6:58 AM

I'm always amazed at how God works, though I shouldn't be. This morning, as I was reading my Life Journal passages, the Old Testament reading was from Zechariah, chapters 7-9. Right away, a passage in chapter 7 jumped out at me, speaking to me as I and Gateway prepare to enter into October and a month of prayer and fasting and reading our Bibles as the foundation for Greater Things...

Scholars tells us this passage takes place in December 518 B.C., as many of the Jews have returned from their exile in Babylonia to Jerusalem and are beginning to rebuild the Temple, which was destroyed in August 586 B.C. by the Babylonians, when they conquered the nation of Judah. Apparently, some Jews had been fasting and mourning the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple, and they came to Zechariah to seek God's answer as to whether they should continue these practices, now that the Temple was being rebuilt.

God gives this response to Zechariah in chapter 7, verses 5-6: "'Say to all your people and your priests, "During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and early autumn, was it really for me that you were fasting? And even now in your holy festivals, aren't you eating and drinking just to please yourselves?"'"

Over twenty-five hundred years ago Zechariah recorded God's response to the Jews that speaks to me today, on the eve of our own period of fasting and prayer. What are my motives? Am I doing this to show how spiritual I am? Am I doing this because it's the "spiritual thing to do"? Am I trying to manipulate God to give me what I want? All these questions come back to a root issue for me - the battle of selfishness within me.

Jesus addressed this directly in his Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus said, "'And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.'"

The issue of prayer and fasting comes down to our motives. This October, as I pray and fast, I'm going to work hard to keep folks from being able to tell what day I'm doing this. I'm going to work hard to avoid the temptation of letting folks know how "spiritual" I am because I'm fasting. I'm going to be honest about what I'm doing (when I'm asked), but I'm not going to try to draw attention to myself. Instead, I'm going to focus on honoring God and listening to God. When I feel hunger pangs, I'm going to use those as reminders to pray. Those times when I would ordinarily eat will be intentional times for me to pray.

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12 NIV - italics added) I'm going to pray this scripture, that God works in me, that He transforms me more and more into the image and likeness of His Son Jesus Christ. I'm going to pray the items on my prayer card. I'm going to ask God to do greater things in me and in the people of our church, so He can do even greater things through us. I don't want this period of prayer and fasting to be about me and my motives and my rewards. I don't want God to question my motives, as he did the people in the time of Zechariah. I want to do this for God, so that my fasting and my prayers bring honor and glory to Him - and not me!

Starting tomorrow I'll be sharing with you my thoughts daily about the New Testament Life Journal readings. You don't have to read the Life Journal readings - just read your Bible daily, using any plan that works for you. It's all a part of our month-long journey of prayer and fasting for Greater Things...

By the way, this Sunday at 5:30 is our First Sunday New Life Service, followed at 6 p.m. by our regular Gateway Academy classes. In addition, Marianne Gignac will be teaching a class on prayer and fasting, and this will be the perfect opportunity to learn more about prayer and fasting.

I won't tell you prayer and fasting is always easy for me. And though you may not have the same struggles I do, I hope and pray that all of us, together, will examine our motives and ask God to do all this for His glory. I'm convinced God is calling us to this, and so if we strive to do our part, He will do even greater things through us for Him and His world. And that gets me excited! I hope October goes well for you - I'm looking forward to what God's going to do!
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