The Foundation
DAY 28 WRITTEN BY: DALLAS WHITE-
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.
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At this time, the city of Samaria served as the capital of the Northern Kingdom. It was — by all accounts — a beautiful city, one that sat like a crown upon the summit of the valley (Is. 28:1). But, because of their city’s prestige, the people of Samaria had grown prideful. Rather than trusting in the Lord, the people of Samaria placed their hope in the fortifications that they’d fabricated. So sure, were they, of themselves, that they lived lives of extravagant luxury, giving little thought to their need for the Lord. Their arrogance angered Almighty God; it was an affront to His glory.
But, it wasn’t just the Samaritans who had succumbed to this sinful self-sufficiency, their Jewish neighbors had as well. Jerusalem — the seat of the Southern Kingdom — had become equally vain. Unwilling to obey the Lord or listen to His prophet Isaiah, God pronounced judgment upon His people.
Through His prophet, the Lord tells His people: everything you’ve trusted in is about to fall apart…you’re about to realize that what you’ve constructed your life on cannot sustain you. But — just like the Lord — even His judgment is enveloped in His love. Here, He’s promising them a more sure foundation, a more formidable cornerstone…one that will not ever crumble, crack, or fade.
This cornerstone is Jesus, God’s Son.
Today, just like the men and women of Israel, we tend to construct our lives on things that are temporal rather than eternal. If we’re not careful, we begin to trust more in ourselves and our accomplishments than we do the Lord. God, in His kindness, refuses to leave us to ourselves. The hardships we experience are often His way of reminding us to build our lives on Christ (and Christ alone). He is a precious cornerstone and a sure foundation. Jesus is the stone who can never be shaken.
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Father, help me to build my life upon the Lord Jesus today. I want to die to self so that I can surrender afresh and a new to Him. Remind throughout the day not to put my hope or trust in anyone or anything other than you…for you are good and I want to build my life upon your love!
