Are you able to finish the quote that I started in today's title? I have often quoted this to our church staff and I am sure to many others. If you look glum or weary at the beginning of the day, here is the exhortation to worship and a positive attitude: "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 Our Creator God has made and given us this day. So we should enjoy it as we enjoy Him.
BUT if you are sick, or have been betrayed by a friend, or have lost your job, or, or, ---; These words may not seem very comforting or compelling.
Today however, I noticed the verses that come before and after this exhortation. I had underlined them in my Bible in the past, but I had never connected them with vs. 24. I actually got excited at 6:30 am., as I thought about these words! They come in the middle of a major Messianic passage that is quoted several times in the Gospels.
Before the exhortation we read "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;" After "This is the day" we read "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." This second one may sound more familiar because these words are shouted by the crowd that greeted Jesus on Palm Sunday. Jesus himself quotes them in reference to his Second Coming. (Matthew 21:9 and 23:39) The statement about the rejected stone is also quoted by Jesus. Matthew 21:42
Why did I get excited early this morning? Because the exhortation to rejoice and be glad is not simply due to the day being created by God. It also flows out of the reality that we have a Redeemer who was rejected but became our Resurrected Lord. It flows out of the reality that Jesus was recognized as the One who came in the name of the Lord AND is the One who will come again in the name of the Lord.
What should that do to you and me each day?
On my worst day of loss or pain I have a life foundation upon which I can "rejoice and be glad". Yes, it is because the Creator has given me this day. But more important, life and attitude changing, is the reality that I have a Saviour who was "despised and rejected" but now sits in heaven as my High Priest. And He is going to return - perhaps tomorrow - to call all of His followers home.
Hmmm. That may not get you as excited right now as it did me this morning. You may be thinking "this is nothing new" which is true - except that the "This is the day" quote just got filled with a lot more theology and meaning than I had given it before.
So go ahead and use that great verse to motivate yourself, your friends and your family. But make sure they understand that today is filled with all the power and joy of creation AND redemption.
BUT if you are sick, or have been betrayed by a friend, or have lost your job, or, or, ---; These words may not seem very comforting or compelling.
Today however, I noticed the verses that come before and after this exhortation. I had underlined them in my Bible in the past, but I had never connected them with vs. 24. I actually got excited at 6:30 am., as I thought about these words! They come in the middle of a major Messianic passage that is quoted several times in the Gospels.
Before the exhortation we read "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;" After "This is the day" we read "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." This second one may sound more familiar because these words are shouted by the crowd that greeted Jesus on Palm Sunday. Jesus himself quotes them in reference to his Second Coming. (Matthew 21:9 and 23:39) The statement about the rejected stone is also quoted by Jesus. Matthew 21:42
Why did I get excited early this morning? Because the exhortation to rejoice and be glad is not simply due to the day being created by God. It also flows out of the reality that we have a Redeemer who was rejected but became our Resurrected Lord. It flows out of the reality that Jesus was recognized as the One who came in the name of the Lord AND is the One who will come again in the name of the Lord.
What should that do to you and me each day?
On my worst day of loss or pain I have a life foundation upon which I can "rejoice and be glad". Yes, it is because the Creator has given me this day. But more important, life and attitude changing, is the reality that I have a Saviour who was "despised and rejected" but now sits in heaven as my High Priest. And He is going to return - perhaps tomorrow - to call all of His followers home.
Hmmm. That may not get you as excited right now as it did me this morning. You may be thinking "this is nothing new" which is true - except that the "This is the day" quote just got filled with a lot more theology and meaning than I had given it before.
So go ahead and use that great verse to motivate yourself, your friends and your family. But make sure they understand that today is filled with all the power and joy of creation AND redemption.
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