Scripture

“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” Luke 20:17-18

Observation
A person must be rocked to come to Jesus. We want to avoid the stumbling stone because we want so very much to be a whole person to come to Christ. We want to present ourselves at our best with every ability sharpened and shined ready for his inspection. But the Lord Jesus Christ will not accept anyone in pristine presentation. That spit and polish is not of him; that kind is all of us. He will have none of self-righteousness. Instead Jesus offers to rock us to come to him.

We avoid this first step in coming to Christ because we don’t value what he values. The Lord cherishes broken pieces and if nothing else is available he will settle for the pulverized dust left over from our stupidity. Broken people are what the Lord wants and so he gives to each of us the gift of setbacks, hardships, disappointments, frustrations, embarrassment, and so on to get us into shape to be remade by him.

There are only two choices to come to Christ: either to be broken or to be pulverized. The Lord prefers the first option for us. That involves us stumbling over the person of Christ and being broken by the discovery. Jesus is the only man who is fully human for his life has fully pleased God. We will always think ourselves competent and complete until we find him.

But if we somehow manage to slip by Jesus or to dust ourselves off and rush on into foolishness then eventually the rock will fall on us and pulverize us. On the other side of Jesus are consequences. If we will not face up to Christ we will meet others who will force us to meet up with ourselves. Hopefully those encounters will bring us back to Christ.

Application
I’m a normal human; I cherish my “together” moments. They are the diplomas on my walls and pictures on my shelves. But Jesus does not cherish these as much as the memory of my need for him. My brokenness is beautiful to him for then he can do what he does best: be a Saviour.

Prayer
Father, your Son is a Saviour and I need saving, so we make a wonderful combination. I need your help. I will not even bother to dust myself off. Just as I am I come to you. Amen.