Cornerstone

Jesus said to them: ¨Did you never read in the Scriptures, ´The stone that the builders rejected is the one that has become the chief cornerstone, From Jehovah this has come to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes?´¨  Matthew 21:42 (Reference Bible)

What a beautiful and well-known parable is the one of the rented vineyard.  Jesus uses the words of the story to paint a wonderful picture of what has happened on earth with what belongs to God.  It describes in few words how God sent His servants to those who are occupying His vineyard to ask for what was rightfully His.  It shows how the inhabitants of His garden treated those messengers and eventually His own Son.

Jesus let the people who shared part of the blame actually give the finishing part of the story and they did not see it coming, but soon realized that He had used the story to say that this was the end to which they were heading.  However comfortable it is to let those men carry the weight of blame described here, we cannot escape our own involvement in the overall story of creation.

What are we doing with God´s vineyard?

God planted His vineyard and has left it to someone.  Those who lived in the days of the ancient prophets probably didn´t see their role in the parable and so they mistreated God´s servants.  The Pharisees and Chief Priests also failed to notice their part even though Jesus exposed it to them.  But today, where do we think we stand?

The day is drawing nearer to when the rightful owner will return to deal with this problem once-and-for-all.  It might be a point which we should make very clear.  Where do we stand in relation to this Cornerstone?  Are we correctly placed in adjustment to it or are we rejecting it secretly somehow?

If we examine the parable itself, the renters could be us.  We are here working in God´s fields and we owe something to the Owner of all things.  Are we giving Him His due?  Are we paying what we should?  Are we being honest and just renters of His property?

God has asked us who inhabit His world to pay a tribute unto Him.  It is not a monetary substance but a part of our very selves.  He has asked us to give Him a part of our heart.  Not just a small part of the heart He desires, but the biggest and most important part of our soul is what He wants.

It has been this way throughout the history of our race.  God sent prophets and His Own Son to direct our attention to this payment which we owe.  But do we really pay it?  Is the owner of the vineyard going to be happy about what you and I are paying?  Or are we sending His messengers away empty-handed.  Do we abuse them somehow without realizing they came from God to direct our attention to the deficit we have not yet paid?

Nobody would like to think that the parable was spoken against them.  But there are some who would be moved by the hearing of it and stop to consider their own situation.  There are some who want to know where they stand in adjustment to this Cornerstone.  These blessed few who hear the story and seek the Lord in the deepest part of their hearts, will need to know for sure that their debt is being paid.

Dear Lord, You made it clear that not all those who were left in Your Father´s vineyard are paying what they owe.  Please help us to make sure that this cornerstone does not crush us.  Let us know that we are positioned correctly to it and that we are aware of what it should mean for us daily.  Take all that we owe of our hearts and souls today.  Let us give up gladly any and all payment so that it is not said of us, that we rejected in any way that center piece of most importance.

In Your name and for Your Glory, we pray,

Amen