Psalm 118:19-22

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

In this Psalm of Thanksgiving, the author is expressing praise and gratitude to God for His salvation. In verse 22 he points out that “the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Jesus quoted this verse in Luke 20:17, referring to Himself as that rejected stone. Many of those living in Jesus’ day, including the religious leaders, rejected Him. Even today, there are many who reject Him, including religious leaders. Our culture is growing increasingly more antagonistic towards the Christian faith. Not surprisingly then, polls show that church attendance in our country is on the decline. In an attempt to reverse this trend, many mainline denominations have embraced a more liberal theology. A theology which denies such foundational Christian doctrines such as the deity of Jesus, His atoning death on the cross and His bodily resurrection from the dead.

Endeavors to make the Gospel more appealing to the lost by eliminating the heart of the Gospel is vanity. God’s redemption is found only in Jesus Christ; as who He truly is and in what He truly accomplished. May we remain faithful to the Gospel as God has declared it, even in a culture that is growing increasingly more antagonistic to Him.

Jesus, you are everything that you have proclaimed to be. There is none like you. There is no one else who can save. And we thank you for your grace and your truth. Help us, your church, to be faithful, now and forever.

— Frank Ulle