Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 9
Saturday


THE ROCK

READ:
Matthew 7:24-27
Ephesians 2:18-22
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Jesus Christ Himself [is]
the chief cornerstone.
_Ephesians 2:20
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On a trip to Massachusetts, my husband and I visited Plymouth Rock, an iconic symbol in the United States. It is traditionally thought to be the place where the Pilgrims, who traveled to America on the Mayflower in 1620, first set foot. While we enjoyed learning about its significance, we were surprised and disappointed that it is so small. We learned that due to erosion and people chipping off pieces, it is now just one-third its original size.

The Bible refers to Jesus as a Rock (1 Cor. 10:4), who never changes (Heb.13:8). He is the solid Rock on which we can build our lives. The church (the body of believers) is built on a foundation with "Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." In Him all believers are joined together (Eph. 2:20-22).

Jesus is the solid Rock we can cling to when the storms of life blow and beat against us (Matt. 7:25). Writer Madeleine L'Engle said: "It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet and what is sand."

Plymouth Rock is an interesting mass of minerals with an intriguing historical significance. But Jesus is a precious cornerstone, and those who trust in Him will always have a solid Rock to depend upon. __Cindy Hess Kasper

````````````````````O build on the Rock, forever sure,`````````````````````
``````````````````````The firm and true foundation,``````````````````````
`````````````````Its hope is the hope which shall endure__``````````````````
``````````````````The hope of our salvation. __Belden````````````````````
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Christ, the Rock, is our sure hope.

*****************************Today's Bible reading __ Matt. 7:24,-27; Eph. 2:18-22************************

Matthew 7
24 Therefore whoever
hears these saying of
Mine, and does them, I will
liken him to a wise man
who built his house on the
rock: 25 and the rain
descended, the floods
came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house; and
it did not fall, for it was
founded on the rock.

26 But everyone who hears
these sayings of Mine, and
does not do them, will be
like a foolish man who
built his house on the sand:

27 and the rain descended,
the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat on
that house; and it fell. and
great was its fall.

Ephesians 2
18 For through Him we
both have access by one
Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are
no longer strangers and
foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints and
members of the household
of God, 20 having been built
on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ Himself being the
chief cornerstone, 21 in
whom the whole building,
being fitted together, grows
into a holy temple in the
Lord, 22 in whom you also
are being built together for
a dwelling place of God in
the Spirit.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says that following His teachings Is
wise and prudent, for they are the foundation on which a full
and healthy life is built, He makes this statement after giving the
Sermon on the Mount, which contains what has been considered
by some the most difficult and stringent guidelines for life. These
requirements extend beyond actions and into the thoughts and
attitudes. A person who honors God with his or her whole life will
remain steady in the storms of life (vv. 24-25).