He Is Risen: The Rejected Stone Becomes Cornerstone

Devotional

Day 1: The Lord is our strength, our song, and our salvation.

This truth is the foundation of our faith. In every season, God provides the inner fortitude to endure and the joyful melody of hope that rises within us. He has not left us to find our own way but has Himself become the source of our deliverance. Our lives are a testimony to His saving power, a story of rescue that is entirely His doing. This reality changes everything about how we face today. [00:50]

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
(Psalm 118:14, ESV)

Reflection: Where in your current circumstances do you need to consciously rely on God as your strength and your song, rather than your own resources or mood?

Day 2: We live to proclaim what the Lord has done.

Our existence has a purpose beyond ourselves. We are saved from death and given life for a reason: to be witnesses to God’s mighty acts. Every day is an opportunity to declare His faithfulness, both in the monumental moments and the quiet graces. Our story is now part of His greater story of redemption, meant to be shared for the encouragement of others and the glory of God. [01:28]

I will not die, but I will live, and I will proclaim what the LORD has done.
(Psalm 118:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific thing the Lord has done for you that you can intentionally proclaim to someone else this week?

Day 3: God’s rejected stone becomes the cornerstone.

The ways of God often defy human expectation and logic. What the world dismisses as useless, irrelevant, or weak, God chooses to build His entire kingdom upon. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof that God specializes in glorious reversals. He takes what seems like a story of defeat and transforms it into the unshakable foundation for our hope and our future. [01:28]

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
(Psalm 118:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life you’ve considered a failure or weakness that God might want to use as a cornerstone for something new?

Day 4: This is the day the Lord has made.

Today is not an accident or a random occurrence. It is a day crafted by the hand of God, filled with purpose and opportunity. Because He is the author of this day, we can approach it not with dread, but with expectancy. Our rejoicing is a choice to align our perspective with His sovereignty, recognizing His handiwork in the gift of twenty-four new hours. [01:44]

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
(Psalm 118:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one reason you can find to rejoice and be glad in this specific day that God has given you?

Day 5: Enter His gates with thanksgiving.

Our access to God’s presence is made possible through His righteousness, not our own. We are invited to walk through the gates He has opened for us, and the only appropriate response is a heart overflowing with gratitude. Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks a deeper awareness of our salvation and the joy of being in relationship with Him. It shifts our focus from what we lack to the abundance we have in Christ. [01:28]

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
(Psalm 118:19, ESV)

Reflection: As you approach God in prayer today, what specific act of His salvation or provision can you lead with in thanksgiving?

Sermon Summary

The resurrection stands at the center of the passage, declared as the source of strength, song, and salvation. Psalm 118 unfolds images of victory: the Lord’s right hand performing valiantly, shouts of joy in the tents of the righteous, and an emphatic proclamation—“I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done.” The text balances honesty about hardship with confident deliverance, noting severe discipline that nevertheless did not abandon life. Gates of righteousness open as an entry point for thanksgiving, and the community responds with deliberate worship: this is the day the Lord has made, a day set for rejoicing.

The scripture emphasizes identity shaped by God’s action rather than human achievement. The stone rejected by builders becomes the cornerstone, reframing rejection into foundational purpose. That reversal invites reconsideration of what the world discards, urging recognition of divine intention in what appears broken or dishonored. Celebration follows recognition; praise moves from private assertion to communal song and thanksgiving, and the language of entering, opening, and giving thanks creates a worshipful rhythm.

Global connection surfaces as well: prayers and greetings from distant congregations underscore the universality of the Easter proclamation. Joy and testimony travel across borders, reinforcing that resurrection joy is not local sentiment but shared conviction. The passage thus calls for both proclamation and practice—living testimonies that speak of survival through discipline, praise at the gates of righteousness, and the transformation of rejection into the cornerstone of a renewed community.

Action flows naturally from these truths. Living in light of resurrection means naming deliverance aloud, entering the gates with gratitude, and recognizing how suffering and correction can coexist with God’s saving purpose. Worship becomes the appropriate response: vocal, communal, and rooted in the conviction that the Lord’s right hand has acted. The day itself functions as both reminder and summons—an appointed time to rejoice, to give thanks, and to proclaim what God has done for life and salvation.

Key Takeaways

1. Resurrection guarantees renewed life Resurrection reframes defeat as the prelude to proclamation; survival becomes testimony. This assurance invites bold living that refuses death’s verdict and names God’s ongoing work. Expect life that testifies rather than merely survives; speak it aloud as a pattern of praise and witness. [00:50]
2. Discipline that spares death Divine correction appears harsh but ultimately preserves life and purpose. Discipline redirects rather than destroys, carving space for testimony instead of resignation. Embrace correction as formative, trusting that suffering can refine vocation rather than erase it. [00:50]
3. Enter through the righteous gate Access to God’s presence comes with thanksgiving and intentional entry. The gate imagery calls for active movement—walking into gratitude instead of waiting at the threshold. Practice worship that begins with deliberate steps of thanks and acknowledgment. [01:28]
4. Rejected stone becomes cornerstone What the world discards can hold redemptive significance and structural authority in God’s economy. Rejection may precede elevation; discard can reveal deeper purpose. Look for hidden worth in what seems thrown away and build community around unexpected foundations. [01:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Easter greeting and celebration
[00:33] - Greetings from Colombian churches
[00:50] - Psalm 118: strength and salvation
[01:28] - The rejected stone as cornerstone
[01:44] - Call to worship and praise

Bible Study Guide

Based on the sermon summary and transcript, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible reading
Psalm 118:14-24 (ESV)
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!” I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Observation questions

What three things does the psalmist declare the Lord to be in verse 14?
According to verses 17-18, what is the outcome of the Lord's discipline?
What is the response of the righteous when the gates are opened for them?
What happens to the stone that the builders rejected?

Interpretation questions

The psalmist says, "I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done." [00:50] What does this statement reveal about the connection between being saved from death and our purpose?
The "gates of righteousness" are described as an entry point for giving thanks. [01:28] Why is thanksgiving presented as something we actively "enter into" rather than just a feeling we have?
How does the transformation of a "rejected stone" into the "cornerstone" [01:28] change our understanding of what God values and how He builds His kingdom?
The phrase "this is the day the Lord has made" is a call for communal rejoicing. [01:44] What is the significance of celebrating God's acts of salvation together as a community rather than individually?

Application questions

The resurrection reframes defeat as a prelude to proclamation. In what area of your life right now are you most tempted to believe a "verdict of death" (e.g., failure, hopelessness) instead of proclaiming what God is doing? What would it look like to "speak life" into that situation this week?
The passage notes that divine discipline can be severe but ultimately preserves life and purpose. [00:50] Can you recall a time of hardship or correction that, in hindsight, you can see was used by God to refine you and redirect your path rather than destroy you? How does that memory help you face current challenges?
Worship is described as a practice that begins with "deliberate steps of thanks." [01:28] What is one practical way you can "enter the gates" with intentional gratitude this week, perhaps even before you feel like it?
The "rejected stone" principle means God often uses what the world discards. [01:28] Is there a person, a group, or even a part of your own story that feels broken or dishonored? How can you ask God to help you see His hidden worth and redemptive purpose there?
Joy and testimony are meant to be shared across borders, reinforcing that resurrection joy is a shared conviction, not just a local sentiment. Who is one person outside of your immediate circle that you can share a testimony of God's goodness with this week?