Remember, the Ephesian people were very young Christians and did not know where exactly they fitted in and what role they had to play. Therefore, as in many other instances, the example of a house is used to explain the whole picture to them: 20God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together.

The foundations of the house were laid by the priests and prophets. They taught us about Jesus. Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth they talked about the Saviour who will be coming the reconcile man with God. These foundations are the best news for all the lost people. We, the bricks, are laid on these foundations.

But before we can be laid, there have to be a stone on which the others are laid. Remember, in those days they did not have baked, straight bricks like we have now. They took the straightest stone and laid it as the cornerstone. All the other stones were then aligned with this one and laid accordinglyJesus is the straightest stone in God’s house. We must be aligned with Him and laid accordingly. When He is the cornerstone, the house can be built straight and solidly. And then God lives in the house together with the Holy Spirit: 21 We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, 22 a temple in which God is quite at home.

It can form a powerful, strong house! Jesus as the cornerstone, the children of God as bricks, the Holy Spirit who lives in everyone also simply just present, with God as resident. This house is an oasis for the people dying outside in the desert. Here is living water that will satisfy the thirst of those who are lost forever. Here the hungry will find powerful food and will never ever go hungry again.

This is God’s plan for us who are called children of God. We must focus our lives on Jesus. How? Look at the way He lived on earth. Live like that. Love your neighbour and care for one another.

I wonder what would happen if we do not direct our eyes at Jesus and simply rely on our own insight. I wonder if we would then be the reason why God’s house is not looking good – full of crooked bricks and holes.

This is the story of someone whose life is proof of a living stone:

I was in Upington this week. Noticed an elderly couple walking slowly from the taxi stand in the direction of Pabalelo.

I saw them three times.  About three hours after I saw them walking along the first time, I met up with them again at the sports grounds close to Spar where they were resting from the heat in the shade of a tree.

I stopped and old Andries told me that he was 70 years old and was on his way back from the clinic, because they wanted his “papers” before they would pay his pension.

When I asked where they were going, he said:  “Master, we’re on our way to Pabalelo.” 
“How far?” I asked.
“Well, Master, about 1 km.
“Can’t I take you?” I asked.  “Not necessary, Master,” he said, “You will have to drive right around there (accompanied by appropriate hand gestures) and that will waste your time. We’ll walk”.

“Have you eaten anything today?” I asked.
“Nothing, Master.” 
Then Sarah said (with much excitement) that they had dug out gwarra that morning, which they would cook later on.

I dug around in my wallet and found a couple of notes and pulled a 2-litre Coke from behind the seat. I gave it to the two of them and Andries said: “Sarah, the Lord has again not forgotten us today.”

Then I asked whether I could take a photograph of them and Andries said: “How can we refuse to give the angel of the Lord a photo? The Lord probably wants to see what we look like.”

As I took the photograph, he lifted his hands and said: “Thank you, Lord!”

Go and look for a place where you can be a living stone in God’s house today. Aligned and laid straight alongside Jesus.

Reflection

Do you believe that you are a living stone?

Are you aligned to Jesus?

Do the people around you recognise God’s house?

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, thank you for the privilege of forming part of your house. Thank you for laying Jesus as the cornerstone and that we can align ourselves with Him. Please help us to live like Jesus on earth. Please help us to make the lives of other people easier. Please help us to create places of rest in the busy life.  Amen