The Rock

 DEVOTION

1 SAMUEL

THE ROCK

1 Sam 2:2

"There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

How can there ever be anyone as Holy as the LORD? How can there ever be anyone besides him? He is the Rock of our Salvation. Jesus has been referred to as the spiritual Rock. We sing that song about our hope is built on nothing less, with the refrain, “ On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand”. However, we wonder if we believe that is only for our salvation, or if it also includes how we live our daily lives. We have known some believers who seem to build their lives on their own talents, skills, education, and career paths, and boast in their accomplishments. Is that building our hope on nothing less, or on something less than Jesus? We know this may appear judgmental, but it is a concern when we hear Christians boasting about their successes, or how much they do for the kingdom of God, almost building a resume of “Good deeds”. When Hannah sings the words, “There is no one holy like the LORD”, we have to come to terms with the fact that no matter how much we try, even striving to obey, “Be holy as I am holy”, we will never accomplish that this side of heaven. Understanding the pure holiness of God should humble us beyond measure. In some sense, we are not even worthy to pray, but we live under the grace of God because of the Rock of Ages, Jesus, who is the cornerstone of our lives. If we try to build our lives on our own, planning our own careers or paths, then we are bound to build a non-straight building or life. It will crumble because it is not built starting from the cornerstone, Jesus. Of course, those who reject Jesus will build a life that is unlevel and crooked, that ultimately will crumble. However, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we begin to build a new life, for we are new creatures in Christ. This new life is build on the Solid Rock, the one whom there is no one else that comes close to being like him. We believe this would mean every aspect of our lives, where we live, work, relax, and worship, is all built on the Rock. Let us always go to our holy God before making any decision in life.