Heart for the House DevotionalSample

## Day 1: The Cornerstone Thought “Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20) Over the course of these next seven days, we are going to meditate daily on one facet of what it means to understand and be the Church. As we reflect on Christ’s beauty, we will also allow that reality to confront our own lives, asking how we might be better participants and servants in Jesus’ mission. When engaging with this devotional, allow yourself to be simply guided by the following four words: Read. Think. Pray. Live. Today, we consider the image of a building and remember that the Church is like a living and breathing temple for God’s presence to dwell. However, the Church is not a physical building, but a spiritual one! It consists of people like you and me. Crucially, that building is not founded upon clever strategies, innovative ideas, charismatic personalities or even lots of hard work. Rather, it is founded upon Jesus Christ. Jesus is the cornerstone of the Church. Without Him, the Church is nothing. With Him, it can be the most beautiful movement on the planet: A symphony of human experience conducted by the living God. God gave Jesus as head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22). The Church is designed to help showcase and reveal that Jesus is better than anything else in this world. Often, it does not live up to that reputation. We become what we behold - for our ruin and our restoration. Living as the Church depends on constantly considering and engaging with Jesus Christ - the cornerstone. Only by meditating on Christ and enjoying daily communion with Him will we be able to form into His likeness, both individually and corporately. As we remember Jesus is the cornerstone, we must simultaneously acknowledge that we are not. Recognising Christ’s Lordship in the Church confronts our pride and sense of entitlement. We are not the hero of the Church’s story. Jesus is. Amazingly, He chooses to work through us and invites us into His work of building His Church. Prayer and Application Today, find a few moments and simply sit in intentional silence. Embrace communion with God. Meditate on the security and relief that comes from knowing Jesus is the cornerstone of the Church. Pray: Jesus, you are the cornerstone of your Church. Thank you that your Church is built not by human might or power (Zechariah 4:6), but by your Spirit. I submit to your ways and your will today.