Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
The Christian religion has often been criticized for being too otherworldly -- for putting too much emphasis on the life that lies beyond the grave, and too little emphasis on the life that is here and now. The Christian religion, it is claimed, offers the believer only "pie in the sky," while providing little joy in the work-a-day world in which we live. What shall we say to this?
It is true that our Lord expects us to keep the eyes of faith fixed on the glories that lie at our journey's end. But He does not want us to forfeit all the legitimate joys, heart-lifting gladness, and soul-refreshing beauty that grace our path from here to there.
That is why He has David exclaim: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Today is ours to enjoy. We need not keep our "hallelujahs" in moth balls; we can live the "hallelujah" life today. No matter how hard the road, no matter how steep the path, we are walking arm in arm with the God of all goodness, whose Son has claimed us as His own. With each new morning we can say:
PRAYER: Lord, this is the day which You have made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 14-15 Matthew 26:36-75
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