The Rock

Isaiah 51 Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.

Monday in Jerusalem. As the day awakens some will play different roles here. Some to the hospital, some to Samaria, some to the market, some to the office. The day begins. But the kitchen remains. We are on Israeli time. And time is different here. Ken arrives today. Jonathan arrives today. So maybe we begin the kitchen today, or maybe not. God's timing.

These first few verses come to life here in this house of stone. This house is hewn from Jerusalem stone, as are most all of the buildings here. They have thick walls. Beautifully hewn stone stacked together. Strong walls carved out of their mother. They protect from the Middle Eastern heat and Middle Eastern bullets. They buffer the sounds of the world. They are ancient and unmoving. Unbending. They contain the colors of earth, sand, salt and light. Every one different, but similar. Some smoother and all different in size, shape and texture. Some parts of the walls are covered with plaster which flakes away as if the rocks underneath wish to be uncovered. All these stones fitted together to make a dwelling place for the Lord's work; for the Lord's children.

Jerusalem herself is a dwelling place for the Lord and for His people. She bears all of the same qualities of the rock from her own body. She too is diverse and battered. She too carries scars. So do we all.

So this morning, He speaks...Listen to me if you would pursue righteousness or seek Me. Look to Me, the Rock from whence you were hewn. You were carved from Me. You bear my resemblance. At this time, you are battered and scarred, rough in texture and longing to be free of your earthly plaster, but you are a solid dwelling place for my Spirit. Call them to come to Me. Look to Me. Listen to Me. Love Me. They are all mine and I am jealous for them. I long for them. I want to gather them and cherish them; to bring them into a relationship. I have a place in my kingdom where they will fit perfectly because they were carved out of it. No one else will fit there.

When we all assume our rightful place, the place in the rock from which we were carved, then the body of Christ will be fitted together for service. Strong. Unified. Undefiled. A dwelling place fit for a royal priesthood, sealed in the heavens and fading not away.

Look to the rock from which you were hewn. Return to Him and be FOUND in Him. Find your place in him.

Isaiah 50 ....Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon? Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who make the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over? And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; ever lasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Romans 12 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfullness.