What will you do with Jesus?

1 Peter 2:4–8

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone,
And the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”

7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,

“A stone which the builders rejected,
This became the chief cornerstone,”

8 and,

“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed.

This is the only part of this passage that isn’t immediately clear or easy to understand. Truthfully, that’s because Peter is communicating ideas and concepts that can be hard for us to grasp, shackled to earthly living and bodies as we are.

The crux of what Peter is getting at is simple, though:

Look at and remember who Jesus is.

Because everything is built around who Jesus is.

Who you think Jesus is determines whether you will be saved or lost. Who you think Jesus is determines the course of your whole life.

So who is Jesus?

Jesus is the cornerstone.

What is a cornerstone? I know less than nothing about construction, but here is what I was taught about the meaning of a cornerstone, especially in ancient architecture when Peter was writing.

The cornerstone was the first part of the building placed, absolutely essential to the entire structure’s stability, determining the position and direction of the entire structure.

Sounds a lot like Jesus being the One we build our lives around and whose guidance we follow.

What’s even more fascinating is that the placing of a cornerstone was often accompanied by rituals invoking divine protection for the building, almost like how we worship Jesus for His role as the cornerstone of our lives, our faith, and God’s Church.

So that is who Jesus is.

But there is a question that is actually more important for us little humans:

What are you going to do about it?

Peter quotes two Old Testament passages—Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 8:14—which are prophecies about the Messiah and how people will respond to Him.

There are only two options. No gray area and no secret third option here.

You can believe, recognizing the precious value of Jesus as the cornerstone of the Christian faith, our lives, and the entire world.

Or you can refuse to believe, and what should have been the precious center and ruler of your life becomes a rock you stumble over—in this case, literally to your death.

Who is Jesus?

What will you do with who Jesus is?

Have answers to those questions today!!