The Cornerstone

 

We had tile flooring installed in our house this summer. The individual tiles are rectangular with a wood grain pattern. My wife made sure to tell the workers which direction she wanted the tiles to go before they started because, once they were started, there wasn’t any going back as far as the direction. The first tile determined the pattern for all the rest, otherwise the overall effect would have been an unappealing jumble.

 

Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, “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). Peter and Paul refer to Jesus as the cornerstone on which the Church is built. Peter writes, “As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

 

Jesus is the cornerstone of the Church, but He should also be the foundation on which we build our lives. More than that, He should form the pattern for our lives. All our thoughts, all that we do, every decision that we make, should be in alignment with His will. Every aspect of our day-to-day existence should be pointing in the same direction, Jesus’ direction.

 

Years ago, there was a movement to put “WWJD”, meaning “What Would Jesus Do”, on bracelets and wristbands to remind people to look at the world around them as Jesus sees it and to act accordingly. It is still good advice for us today.