In Times Like These

Living in the Spirit
October 7, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:33-46

Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
“The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
   and it is amazing in our eyes”? Matthew 21:42

The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
   it is marvelous in our eyes. –Psalm 118:22-23

Cornerstone: the event, fact, or thing that forms the principal foundation or support upon which an achievement is based or from which a development makes its beginning*

Christ is the chief cornerstone of the Kingdom of God. The end we work for is not a shallow promise without substance. God wrote a vision of a just and good world on the heart of Jesus who came to earth to share it with us and invite us to join in becoming part of his very Body to make God’s vision real for all God’s children.

I turned on the news this morning to hear of another senseless shooting, the worst in the country’s history. We seem to compete for beating our worst. We are still recovering from some of the worst hurricanes in modern times and hear of the people of Puerto Rico caught in catastrophe with little food and water and no electricity. While our governmental leaders seem to be under the impression that if we cut our income, we will have more money to spend while recent and past experience tells us that is not true.

In times like these, you need a Savior,
In times like these, you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

CHORUS: The Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One,
The Rock is Jesus, The only One
Be very sure, be very sure, Your anchor holds,
And grips the Solid Rock.**

Prayer: Lord, give us the strength and courage to continue our work toward your Kingdom in times like these. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/cornerstone

**First verse and chorus of In Times Like These by Ruth Caye Jones see at http://www.namethathymn.com/christian-hymns/in-times-like-these-lyrics.html

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.