What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

–Parallel verses:
Psalms‬ ‭40:1-3‬
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

One of the most interesting camping trips I took was a last-minute trip to Massacre Rocks campground, just west of Pocatello, Idaho. We were wanting to go camping and found that most campgrounds were full, but not Massacre Rocks. We learned that not only was there a ferry system there across the river, but it was the site of a major battleground in the past. Furthermore, it had large rocks all around to climb on. These rocks were intimidating, because they were so big and sometimes difficult to climb.

As we read the Bible, we find that stones and rocks are mentioned throughout it as metaphors for Jesus and also for us. Sometimes the same stone is referenced as having two distinctly different roles. The first reference in Romans is to Jesus, and it refers to him as a stone. Stones are typically hard. The challenge with trying to climb over them is that we stumble at times. The stone reference to Jesus Christ indicates that anyone who tries to climb it in their own strength will stumble and fall. This is a reference to living life in our own strength. Without God’s Spirit in our hearts (which we gain by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior) we are not able to live with the weight of impact he did and avoid sin. In essence, though we try and try harder, we continue to stumble.

Conversely, if we make the rock of Jesus Christ our foundation in life, by having an active faith, then we will not be put to shame in falling all the time. We will rise victorious! I love the picture Psalm 40 paints of pulling us out of the slimy pit of muck and mire and setting our feet on a rock. That rock is Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus at a heart level? Is he truly your rock in life? He can be and wants to be, we just have to invite him in. And then he puts a song in our hearts, and we can rejoice and be glad no matter the circumstances in life. We begin to live a Rock Solid Life. I love the old hymn, Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me. Its first verse goes like this: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure.”

Lord, thank you that you allow me to stumble when I try to pretend I have this life and its challenges tackled in my own strength. This causes me to seek something more powerful. And Jesus is that power. You have planted me on the Rock and given me a firm place to stand in life. Life is full of adventure as I let you guide me and rely on your strength. I can take risks and know you are my strength and my guide. All praise to you and glory to your name!