Psalm 118:24

Will you sit with me for a moment to think carefully about this verse?

EVERY day is given by God – EVERY new day is a day made by God – And EVERY day we can rejoice and be glad for that day! So, every day we should be thankful!

But even more powerful is to understand this verse in light of its prophetic meaning. This verse looks ahead to the death of Jesus on the cross, a day which was the eternal plan of God from before time began (Acts 2:23; 1 Peter 1:20). Jesus is “the stone that the builders rejected” and has “now become the cornerstone” (verse 22).

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT (verse 24)!

This day, the day Jesus stretched out His arms allowing the soldiers to nail Him to a cross, accepting the whole and complete wrath of God for the sins of the world which He bore in His own body— “Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar” (verse 27b). “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.” (1 Peter 2:24a, NLT).

We rejoice and give thanks for a Savior who delivered all who believe from the final judgment and eternal damnation to now live a life filled with thankfulness and joy for God’s abundant goodness. Our rejoicing is not from the cruelty of the cross but the accomplishment of the sacrifice!

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. WE WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT

Even now in the twenty-first century, the circumstances of this life can be cruel and filled with a great amount of suffering, but we have been given the greatest gift, the most priceless gift, the very reason for life. Our lives should be an all-encompassing mission, the very reason we wake each morning: to know Him and make Him known through lives that have been changed and radiate joy no matter what our circumstances!

This day, I begin another dairy/sugar fast leading up to Easter, the greatest day of remembrance for every Christian. The goal is not to joy in no dairy or sugar but to joy in my Savior and look forward to celebrating our Risen Lord: King Jesus! Prayer and thankfulness will be my focus as I humbly seek to be developed and deepened for His glory!

Will you rejoice with me in the Lord?

Rejoice in the Lord, always, and again I say rejoice! Philippians 4:4