Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Bible Bites: Cornerstones and Capstones

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November is the month of thanksgiving, gathering with friends and family over a great meal and Bible Bites. 

Bible what?? Well, I am somewhat of a foodie (not a professional foodie by an means) and love to feast on hearty meals with meat, chicken, fish and roasted veggies. But what I really love are appetizers. You know, tasty tidbits of food that you can nibble on all afternoon and evening. Little bites of deliciousness.

I’ve found some awesome tidbits in scripture, too. Little bites, small but meaty and oh, so delicious. They’ll give you something to chew on. The Bible bite we will discuss this week is from First Peter:

“For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame. So honor will come to you who    believe; but for the unbelieving, the stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone, and a stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because    they disobey the word; they were destined for this.” 1 Peter 2:6-8 (CSB, italics mine)

Do you notice how the word cornerstone is used twice here? Yes, I did too! And it made me wonder, “What is the difference?” Well, here ya go…

The original greek used for cornerstone in verse six is this:

204. akrogōniaíos; from ákron (206), extreme, and gōnía (1137), corner. The foundation cornerstone.⁠1

The foundation cornerstone is traditionally the first stone laid in the foundation of a building. All the other stones (or whatever building material is used) are built around this first piece. For the Christian church, Jesus is our cornerstone. He is the foundation, the first stone laid, and sustains the whole structure. As members of the body of Christ, we are the building blocks. 

However, the second use of the word cornerstone has a completely different meaning. This is the original greek for that word:

2776. kephalḗ. The head, top, that which is uppermost in relation to something. Metaphorically of things, the head, top, summit, e.g., the head of the corner, meaning the chief stone of the corner, the cornerstone.⁠2

Generally, this top stone is referred to as the capstone. It is the final stone laid in the building project. This is also referring to Jesus. Those who don’t believe in Him will stumble because of their refusal to believe in and obey the Gospel. 

And here’s the little nugget that I love: It’s all about Jesus. He is the foundation cornerstone and the capstone; the first and the last; The Alpha and the Omega. Amen and amen!!

Don’t you just love that?

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1 Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

2 Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).

What a Friend!

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It was a comfortable silence. He was looking at something on the iPad, I was reading a book. From time to time we would look up and smile at each other.

After several nights of this, I realized something: We’re not talking. We’re not sharing. I’m not sharing my life with him. My husband. My best friend. I didn’t exclude him on purpose. We had just become very comfortable with each other. Like two old friends sharing a bench.

And that’s a good thing! We’re at home and relaxed with one another. But we also have to be careful not to take things for granted. Not to become TOO comfortable. Ever so slowly a distance can creep in. Our relationship can become three miles wide, and two inches deep. No depth, no substance. Kind of like the relationship I have with 400 of my closest friends on Facebook!

That isn’t the type of connection John and I want with each other. We want depth. To have that, we need to be deliberate in cultivating a stronger, deeper relationship.

I want the same thing with Christ. Deepness. And I need to be intentional about it. If I’m not careful, I can take this very important relationship for granted. I can become too comfortable during my prayer times with Him. This relationship with Christ – above all others – needs to move from shallow to deep. And then deeper still.

And so, just like in my marriage, I began to make adjustments. I began conversations. I tell Him about my day, my deepest feelings gushing out. I read His word, slowly dwelling on passages that speak to me.

I stop and listen to Him. I pour over the scriptures, careful to pause if a verse catches my attention. And then I read the passage again, slowly, letting it sink deep into my heart. And then I ask questions.

“Why, Lord? Why should I care what this scripture says? What does it have to do with me, today, 2,000 years after it was written? Why does this matter? What are You saying, Lord? Is this something I need to apply to my life? Is there a change I need to make?”

I love the questions. But more than that, I love when I sense God’s  answers!

“Ellen, that scripture was written so that you can know the lengths I will go for a relationship with you. So that you know I love you and will pursue you. So that you can share with others how deep my love is for my people.”

Are you intentional about your relationship with Jesus? Are you cultivating the depths of His friendship?

I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
John 15:15 (NLT)

Lord, how thankful I am that You count us as friends, that we can bring anything to You in prayer. Yes, indeed, what a privilege! Thank you for being such a personal God – You listen and hear our prayers. In Jesus powerful name, Amen.

Until next week,

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This post was originally published 1-16-201

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