“Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12)
We think of a builder as one who builds houses. Yet we spend a lifetime building our lives. We need Jesus as our foundation and the cornerstones of our temple that receives the Holy Spirit.
Peter speaks to the leaders of the temple and all who have rejected Jesus, warning them they cannot save themselves through following the Ten Commandments, essentially, being good. He recites from the Old Testament, Psalm 118:22, so the Jewish leaders know the teaching is from God. Still, they reject Jesus because it is their desire to have power and money, essentially to be God, not to have a relationship with Him. They leave Jesus out in the field as a stone to stumble upon.
We read in Acts 2:21: “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” All you need to do to be saved is pray a humble prayer from your heart. “Jesus, I’m sorry for my wrongdoings. I’m trusting you to be my Lord and Savior. In Your name, I pray, amen.” With that prayer you are born into the family of God. God is your father, and you have a personal relationship with Him through prayer in the name of Jesus. You have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. What a miracle. If you prayed that prayer or one like it, you are an heir of God. All His promises are available to you. If you read the Bible, God’s Word, you will discover His promises.
Father God, I praise You for Your perfect plan to save me through Jesus. He is the foundation and cornerstone of my life, so I have been baptized with the Holy Spirit as You promised. Fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit today, so I can spread Your love every moment and live the life You want me to live. Then, I will have peace and joy and spread Your love to everyone You give me. In Jesus’ precious and holy name, I pray, amen.