Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.[a] 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually[b] into a dwelling place for God.
Reflection
We are laying some 16 x 16 inch paving stones in our backyard. Because I don’t have an eye for design, trying to determine which stones and which colour would match with what we already have in our yard, was a challenge. We chose a stone with a pattern.
That, in itself presented a new challenge. Do you arrange the stones in an intentional way to do something with that pattern, or do you lay them with a more natural look? Do you start at the fence and work your way out, or work your way back to the fence so the cuts are against it?
So many questions that needed to be answered. And in the end, while there may be better ways of doing it and a professional might be horrified by our choices, I am trusting that it will all look good when it is complete.
HOWEVER, and this is a big HOWEVER – what you lay those stones on is really important. It’s difficult to work on unstable ground. You need to ensure that you have the right amount of crushed stone under each 16 x 16. You can’t just throw the stones down and hope it all works out in the end.
As I watched Isaac level and rearrange and level some more, I couldn’t help but think of the above scripture and the reminder about the importance of the foundation upon which we build and the Cornerstone that ties us together. When we build our lives on the life and teachings of Jesus, we start with a solid foundation, and that foundation can make a life-transforming difference for each of us and for the communities of which we are a part.
It also reminded me that sometimes in life we neglect that foundation. We forget about the importance of prayer, scripture, service and seeking Christ out. It’s easy to worry about what things look like on the surface. It is faithful to remember the foundation upon which we build.
Prayer
God, as I build my life, let it be built on the solid foundation of Jesus. Let his life and teachings inspire my life and help me to live as a reflection of his love. Amen.
To Listen and Reflect (and an added video)
The video was sent to me this week – a great reminder!
