10 Commandments Crush or Break

We were talking about the cornerstone at prayer meeting this week. Historically, the cornerstone for the Jewish temple was first rejected, then the builders realized their mistake and put the stone in place.

Jesus used this historical fact to explain that He was the cornerstone. Interestingly, the cornerstone if fallen on will break you, but if it falls on you, will crush you. Very interesting words of Jesus.

But then you look at other stones, such as the rock cut out without hands and the tables of stone containing God's law. Wait a minute. God's law. How about that. Isn't it a cornerstone to our faith?

Let's take a deeper look. Where are the tables of stone with the 10 Commandments? They were last seen in the Ark of the Covenant that the prophet Jeremiah is reported to have hidden for its protection before the Babylonian captivity. The Ark of the Covenant, the lid covering the 10 Commandments, is called the Mercy Seat.

What could this mean? Jesus said if we fall on the cornerstone we will be broken. If we fall on God's mercy, on the mercy seat, falling on the law, we are broken and have a humble or contrite spirit. God says He works with a humble and contrite spirit.

If the law falls on you, you are crushed. You are ground to powder. If the whole weight of the law falls on you, it is devastating. But fall on the mercy seat first, and you are merely broken and reformed to reflect God's image.

As many people around the country celebrate the Ten Commandments Weekend, ask yourself, are you trying to nail the Law to the cross and find yourself being crushed by it, or are you falling on God's mercy and asking Him to help you reflect His perfect character?