Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
" `The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone' ?
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.
(Luke 20:17-18 (NIV))
Which would you rather be - broken or crushed? Let's face it, neither one of them sound like it will be good for anyone. Both options have drastic overtones that on the surface resound with pain.
Carefully consider the options from a two thousand year old perspective.
To fall to the ground, or prostrate yourself, meant to throw yourself at the mercy of the one who was in authority. The authority was thought of as strong and as powerful as stone. Out of humility, people would prostrate themselves on the stone of the authority seeking mercy. In the situation where a faith in Jesus is professed, Jesus is that stone. He is that authority. It is at His feet that we prostrate ourselves seeking mercy. Fortunately, all who seek it will find it. Through our brokenness and humility, we will be strengthened. We will be made whole.
Consider those who did not throw themselves at the mercy of the authority. That stone of authority came down upon them and crushed any chances of mercy that may have existed. The same is true of Jesus. If we are too proud to turn to Him in brokenness and humility, eventually, His authority will come down upon us and crush us. We will be broken and cast away without any hope. I know that this sounds harsh, but we must remember that God loves us and does not desire for any of us to face this. He calls us to Him, but our pride causes the separation.
In my opinion, it is much better to be broken than to be crushed. Brokenness implies that we can be restored. We can be made as good as new. To be crushed implies the return to the dust from which we came.
All of us must come to terms with the power and the strength of the stone that is Jesus. We can humbly approach Him in our brokenness and seek mercy, or we can deny Him in our pride and be crushed by His authority. One thing that we must never forget is that with the authority that belongs to Jesus comes the love and mercy of God. It is this love and mercy that kept Jesus on the cross. He faced being crushed so that we can turn to Him in our brokenness and find love and mercy.
As for me, I would hope to be broken and loved by God, instead of being proud and crushed by the weight of my sin.
How will you face the power of the stone?
Will you be broken or crushed?
Copyright 1998 - 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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