Starting Small
We try to do so many things and be better in so many areas that, in the end, we accomplish nothing. We are just back at square 1. And we all thought we would learn through the pandemic. And we are not even out of it, and we like even crazier than before. We try to balance so many things because we in the world currently know that to be good successful humans, we have to have a great job, a great marriage, an excellent school for kids, great finances, great cars, and excellent health. To name a few, how do we keep on doing that?
The new year excites new hope and inspires determination to change the year ahead, typically through major overhauls of diets, spending, and other habits. I want you all, including me, to do something different this year. I do not want you to make a list. So can I ask you to do the following - Take your list and shred it to pieces.
1
We need to create a foundation.
Explanation
I want to look primarily at the Zeceraiah. For those who do not know where that is, maybe you should add reading the Bible to your list in a year. Let me ask you this: Sometimes, you may have been tempted to quit. Zechariah found a city full of people who felt like this. So he spoke words of encouragement and motivation to them, and they picked up the pieces and kept going. Zechariah's words can do the same for us today.
God's people had been in captivity in Babylon for 70 years. But when Cyrus came to power, he permitted people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Many chose to stay, but those who returned set about their task with great enthusiasm. They soon encountered many obstacles, however, and became discouraged. And if I look at this story and also our life.
We read this Zechariah 4:7 (HCSB)7 'What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become a plain. And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!'"
A cornerstone was the principal stone, usually placed at the corner of an edifice, to guide the workers' course. The Cornerstone was usually one of the largest, most solid, and most carefully constructed structures. The Bible describes Jesus as the Cornerstone that His church would be built. He is foundational. Once the Cornerstone was set, it became the basis for determining every measurement in the remaining construction; everything was aligned. As the Cornerstone of the church's building, Jesus is our standard of measure and alignment.
The book of Isaiah has many references to the Messiah to come. In several places, the Messiah is referred to as "the cornerstone," such as in this prophecy: "So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the One who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line" (Isaiah 28:16–17). In context, God speaks to the scoffers and boasters of Judah, and He promises to send the Cornerstone—His precious Son—who will provide a firm foundation for their lives if they would but trust in Him.
But what we did as humans we replace that Cornerstone with something else. We replaced it with our jobs, our careers. We made our cornerstones our wives and husbands. (Speak into God first, then your marriage)
We do not need to do anything in our strength because we see in both the new and old Testaments that Jesus is the Cornerstone. Paul wanted the church in Ephesians to know Jesus better. Paul wants us today also to e know Christ better: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief Cornerstone. The whole building is joined together in him and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:19– 21).
Peter says that Jesus, as our Cornerstone, is "chosen by God and precious to him" (1 Peter 2:4 and Verse 6). The Cornerstone is also reliable, and "the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame" (verse 6).
Illustration
The most famous poor foundation in the world is the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. The tower began to sink after construction progressed to the third floor in 1178. Scientists travel yearly to measure the building's slow descent. They report that the 179-foot tower moves about one-twentieth of an inch a year. The tower threatens to fall onto the nearby ristorante, where scientists now gather to discuss their findings. Quite significantly, the word "Pisa" means "marshy land," which explains why the tower began to lean even before it was completed. Also--its foundation is only 10 feet deep!
In May 2008, after removing another 70 metric tons (77 short tons) of earth, engineers announced that the Tower had been stabilized such that it had stopped moving for the first time in its history. They stated it would be stable for at least 200 years. All because of a poor foundation!
No, I want you to understand this. It all started as a bad foundation, but it did get fixed and repaired to be stable again.
Application
We need to go back before anything else this year and make Jesus our Cornerstone. Matthew 6:33 says Matthew 6:33 (HCSB)33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. We need to make Jesus our Cornerstone. So whatever your Cornerstone is that is not Jesus will ultimately end up in failure. How do we do it? You must turn away from popular belief and ground yourself into the word. If you can start by trusting Jesus as the rock and Cornerstone of your life, your decisions, your career, and your family. That is the part. Jesus wants you to start small by just believing. Just believe. And from then, we can do the following and the start of my second point.
2
Start building from our Cornerstone
Explanation
We must then start building from the foundation. When we know who we are in Christ. If we start believing what the word says, then we can build His kingdom. The thing is that when Jesus is not the Cornerstone, everything else we make will not stand. We read in 1 Peter 2:4-8 (HCSB) Coming to Him, a living stone — rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God — 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it is contained in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion,a chosen and honoured cornerstone, and the One who believes in Him will never be put to shame!7 So honour will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected —this One has become the cornerstone, 8 and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.
Illustration
Look at the following picture:
In our day, when a building has a 'cornerstone', it's usually only symbolic. It's a ceremonial stone—often inscribed or bearing a plaque that tells something informative about the building. Usually, it has no fundamental importance to the building beyond that.
But in ancient times, a cornerstone was the most important stone in the building. When builders would begin laying bricks for a building, they would carefully select one large stone—a stone that they then carefully worked and prepared—that would hold the strategic place in the construction of the foundation. All the other stones would be set about it. It would be the stone that joined the beginning walls into a solid corner; thus, it would determine the building's position, structure, and stability. The very first thing that a wise builder would do would be to select, prepare and place the Cornerstone.
Application
That illustrates a great spiritual lesson to us, doesn't it? It makes us ask, "What is the Cornerstone of my life? What is the beginning point upon which the rest of my life is constructed?" Many people choose science and human reason as the beginning point. Others look to 'spirituality' and 'religion' or the teachings of various human philosophies. Some seek to build their lives on such noble things as service to others, humanitarianism, or the pursuit of social justice. Others seek to build their lives on materialism, success, reputation, or even power over others. Some seek to build their lives on good health. Some build their whole lives on the pursuit of pleasure.
Very few people stop considering what they have used as a 'cornerstone'—what they have built their lives upon. Many keep building without any thought of the foundation. And sadly, many find that what they made their lives on disappoints them in the end. They had not wisely selected the proper beginning point—the right Cornerstone.
The Bible tells us that there is only one reliable Cornerstone. God has made us build our lives in the way He has ordained—and he makes us for no other way than His. He has appointed the proper stone for us to use. You may have noticed that the apostle Peter referred in this morning's passage to what has been written in Scripture, and in these Old Testament passages, God tells us about this promised "stone".
Peter quoted, for example, from Isaiah 28. In that passage, God spoke to the leaders of the people of Israel who rejected Him and His excellent way for them. They sought to build a life in the way they chose—even thinking that, in defiance of God, they had made a deal with death and the grave and were thus safe from the consequences of their choice. And so, in verses 14-16, Isaiah writes;
Isaiah 28:14-16 (HCSB) Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you mockers who rule this people in Jerusalem.15 For you said, "We have cut a deal with Death, and we have made an agreement with Sheol; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, it will not touch us because we have made falsehood our refuge and have hidden behind treachery." 16 Therefore, the Lord GOD said: "Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the One who believes will be unshakable.
But Jesus came for you and me, and we need to start somewhere because we are entering 2023 with so much on our minds and so many things that we want to change. Still, I think we forget that we need to start somewhere, and you may ask Louis.
Still, I am already overwhelmed, I am already afraid, I am already anxious, but I am saying here, Jesus is saying, hey, I am the Cornerstone, start with me, Make me the corner of your life and build it from there, because when we are looking towards the perfect Cornerstone, when we build our lives constantly looking at that Cornerstone our house will stand. And you may ask Louis. How, How do I do that. Well, do this we
3
Start Small
Explanation
In Atomic Habits, James Clear writes about the power of small habits in our lives. One piece of advice he suggests is the two-minute rule. He says anyone can build a practice by starting with a two-minute version of the habit. This rule means that a person will do an activity for only one hundred and twenty seconds. After that time, they must stop. Over several weeks, they will establish the beginning ritual of the habit. Then they can increase the duration of the activity. Clear writes, "One of my readers used this strategy to lose over one hundred pounds. In the beginning, he went to the gym each day, but he told himself he wasn't allowed to stay for more than five minutes. He would go to the gym, exercise for five minutes, and leave as soon as his time was up. After a few weeks, he looked around and thought, 'Well, I'm always coming here anyway. I might as well start staying a little longer.
Illustration
This time-lapse video illustrates the power of water. A small trickle can erode massive amounts of land over a long period. We should never underestimate the power of small beginnings. I want you to look at this video as I talk by starting small. Now, as you can see, it is only a tiny trickle of water, but I want you to look at it over time. Let us look at some of the bible characters:
David: David was a shepherd boy chosen by God to become the king of Israel. He started as a small and humble servant, but through his faith and trust in God, he became a great leader and warrior.
Mary: Mary was a young woman chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. She was a humble and faithful servant, and through her faith and trust in God, she became the mother of the Son of God.
Abraham: Abraham was a small, simple man called by God to leave his homeland and journey to a new land. He trusted in God's promise and became the father of many nations.
Peter: Peter was a fisherman chosen by Jesus to become one of his disciples. He started as a simple fisherman, but through his faith and trust in Jesus, he became an influential leader in the early Christian church.
These are just a few examples of people in the Bible who started small but achieved great things through their faith and trust in God. No matter where we are, we can have faith and trust in God to guide us and help us achieve great things.
Application
So let me use a few examples.
Reading the Bible and praying regularly: One way to start small with Jesus as the Cornerstone is to commit to reading the Bible and praying regularly. This helps to establish a daily habit of seeking guidance and direction from God and helps to keep Jesus at the centre of one's life.
Attending church and participating in fellowship with other believers: Another way to start small with Jesus as the Cornerstone is to attend church regularly and fellowship with other believers. This helps to connect with other people who are also seeking to follow Jesus and grow in their faith.
Serving others and sharing the love of Christ: Another way to start small with Jesus as the Cornerstone is to serve others and share the love of Christ with those around you. This could involve volunteering at a local ministry or charity or simply reaching out to others in need and offering support and encouragement. Learning more about Jesus and his teachings:
Starting small with Jesus as the Cornerstone may involve learning more about Jesus and his teachings. We are doing some courses and have a boatload of new ones coming online and in person this year.
Marriages: You start by making Jesus your Cornerstone, you start praying together, You study the word together, and You join us for the marriage camp we are doing this year. Yes, you heard right, this year we are going to a church away for a weekend as married couples and growing together.
Business: We are starting business breakfasts where we want to create a platform for companies to meet to grow and put world-class Godly business principles in the workplace. We want to ensure that we do not go into 2023 the same way we left 2022
Conclusion
Overall, starting small with Jesus as the Cornerstone involves taking small, practical steps to make Jesus the central focus of one's life and to seek to follow his teachings and example. As one grows in their faith and relationship with God, these small steps can lead to significant growth and spiritual maturity.
