Brother Daniel taught our Sunday School class this morning. His text was from Psalm 144:12, "That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:"
Although this thought can be put to our sons, I wanted to focus on our daughters, in particular, about the latter part of this verse. "...that our DAUGHTERS may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace:"
A cornerstone is a very important part of the foundation of a palace, or any structure, that is. The rest of the structure depends on the cornerstone so it must be strong. When I looked up the word, cornerstone, I found it interesting that over a period of time, the cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry. It would be put in a prominent location with an inscription on it, indicating the construction dates and the name of the master builder.
In Ephesians 2:20, Jesus Christ is the CHIEF Cornerstone. He is the foundation of His church. Without Him, the church will collapse.
I've read Psalm 144:12 many times, but for whatever reason never made the connection of our daughters being as cornerstones as Christ is the Chief Cornerstone and our daughters are to be Christ-like.
I love my daughter more than any other girl on the face of the planet. Although she and I are becoming friends as she grows older, I still have a responsibility to be her mother and teach her right from wrong. We have plenty of time to be friends when she's an adult. But right now I have to be her mom, polishing her as a cornerstone to be set in place for those around her. Those that build on to her, such as her friends, her children, her grandchildren...their spiritual well-being depends on her spiritual well-being and what I make of it. It's too late when they're grown to start teaching them. It's when they are in the crib that these lessons should begin. It should not be a question to our daughters if we're going to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday prayer meeting. It should not be a question to our daughters whether or not we're going to revivals or special meetings. It should not be a question to our daughters whether or not they should go "here" or do "that." It should not be a question to our daughters whether or not they should wear "this" or have "these" friends. As Christian parents, these are things we are responsible for training our daughters very early on in their lives.
Hannah will be sixteen on Wednesday. Not quite an adult yet. But she still has some polishing left. I could allow her to start making her own decisions. She's a good girl. She has good friends. But she's still only sixteen. And she still needs guidance if she is going to be a strong cornerstone. If I left her alone and did not tend to her spiritual needs as a young girl, then when she is older it becomes too late and much more difficult for her to become a strong Christian.
There are two cornerstones that can relate to our daughters. One is dirty and smudged, cracked and broken. If it is not tended to, its palace will eventually begin to collapse around it. The other is clean and shining, with the Master Builder's name of Christ visibly seen for all who pass by. It is strong and stable and will stand the test of time for many who come to its palace.
As mothers, we should continuously be polishing our daughters and chiseling the name of the Master Builder upon their hearts.
I earnestly pray that Hannah will be a strong cornerstone and that all who witness her behavior and see her testimony will not see "her," but Christ. Anything other than Christ makes a very weak foundation.
