The religious leaders told Jesus to rebuke them. They didn’t believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus replied, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:28-40) When John the Baptist was baptizing, some Pharisees and Sadducees came to him. John knew that they were proud of their religious heritage, claiming their link to Abraham as the basis of their salvation. John warned them to repent of their sins, saying, “God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” (Matthew 3:1-12) God is collecting stones through His awesome and amazing grace. He is building a house of living stones to give Him honor and praise. (I Peter 2:4-5)

God delights in blessing and using those whom this world lightly esteems and rejects. A man who dropped out of school and was considered retarded by his teachers became the great Albert Einstein. The black man who spent decades in prison was released when he was an old man and Nelson Mandela became the great statesman of South Africa. Space does not permit a list of the great men and women who suffered rejection but who persevered to fulfill their God given destiny.

Consider this wonderful prophetic psalm concerning God’s most precious stone. “I will praise you, for you have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it was marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:22-24 NKJV).

Who is the stone the builders rejected but has become the chief cornerstone? The Holy Spirit reveals that this stone is Jesus, the rock of our salvation. “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame . . . The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (I Peter 2:4-10 NKJV).

Jesus was rejected by his own. He was crucified for the sins of the world to make atonement. But He arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. Don’t make the mistake of rejecting this stone of salvation. “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).

Yes, God is the heavenly rock hound. He is collecting living stones to build an eternal spiritual house where He may dwell in the hearts and lives of His children. Receive “The Stone the builders rejected.” Let’s give Him praise, “For this is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). The day of your salvation is at hand.