“This is
the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm
118:24).
Chances are
that you, or someone that you know, owns something (a picture, a plaque, a
bookmark) with that verse inscribed on it, because, for centuries, it has
inspired people to live their life differently.
By breaking it down into its component parts, we will see more clearly
the truth that it teaches.
“This is
the day”. It is tempting to dwell on the
past wishing that we could relive or redo some aspect of it, but it is
gone! Similarly, it is easy to get
caught up in fretting about what might happen in the future. However, if anything is going to get done, it
must be done “today”. “This is the day”
is an important phrase because it reminds us that this is the only day that we have. The past is gone and the future is still a
mystery, but “this day” you can make a difference. What are you going to do with “this day”?
“That the
Lord has made”. Do you believe
that? Do you believe that God has placed
you here, in these circumstances, for a reason?
Unfortunately, most people think that their life and circumstances are just
random events and that the things that happen are the result of good or bad
luck. But what if God has you right
here, right now, for a reason? What if it
is true that God has “determined the times set for them and the exact places
where they should live”? (Acts 17:26) Would
that cause you to see your circumstances differently? Would it cause you to live with more purpose? Assuming that the Lord has made this day and
all that is in it, leads me to ask, “What does God want me to do or learn
here?” and that is always a great question.
“Let us
rejoice and be glad in it”. Some days
will be good, others will not be, but the overall tone of my life is to be one
of “rejoicing” and “gladness”. That
leads me to ask: “Would people use those two words to describe you?” If not, then something needs to change! Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord
always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” That is a command, not a suggestion. If I believe that God has given me this day,
then I must also look for the good in it.
I must find something about which to be glad.
Too many
times, we act as if faith has nothing to do with everyday life, but that is not
true. We need a faith that changes not
only our eternal destination, but also the way that we deal with things here.
“This is
the day…” is a good place to start.
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