A Biblical Approach To Each Day

A Biblical Approach To Each Day

Psalm 118:24

“This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, NASB)?

Among other things, Psalm 118 is one of those songs which speaks of victory. This psalm was the last of a section of the Psalms called the Hallel, or doxology. This section consisted of Psalms 113-118. This was probably the hymn that was sung as Jesus and the disciples left the Last Supper. For Matthew and Mark say, “And after sing¬ing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

I. Approach Each Day With Confidence, 6.

“The Lord is for me.”

As the psalmist penned the words of this psalm, he under¬stood that the world was against him. The devil was against him. His own people were against him. But he knew God was for him.

God is with those he calls and uses in his service. Joshua was encouraged by God to be s¬trong and of good confidence. God said to him, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and cou¬rageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Jos¬hua 1:9, NASB). God said to Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you...” (Jeremiah 1:8, NASB).

When human nature is backed with a superior nature, human nature is full of courage. When the Lord is on our side there are no circumstances too great for us to handle.

Jesus could face the suf¬fering and agony of Calvary because he knew that God his Father was on his side. God was for him. This is the kind of confidence that laughs at impossibilities.

II. Approach Each Day With Courage, 6.

“I will not fear; What can man do to me.”

The psalmist did not say that he should not suf¬fer, but that he would not fear. He understood that God’s love for him outweighed man’s hatred of him. Therefore, setting God’s love over against man’s hatred, he felt that he had no reason to be afraid.

The psalmist was much like Jesus as he faced the cross. Although surrounded by enemies, he remained calm and confident. God’s children need to remember that nobody can do any more to them than God per¬mits. At the very most, man can hurt the body but he cannot hurt the soul.

Saul did all he could to kill David, but David outlived him and sat upon his throne. The mightiest man is a puny thing when he stands in opposition to God. The words of this psalm suggest that the writer enjoyed God’s favor and therefore challenged every enemy. David said, “I will not fear; What can man do to me.” Courage is that which enables the Christian to humbly make his boast in the Lord.

III. Approach Each Day With Contentment, 24.

“This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Contentment was meant to be a part of the Chris¬tian life each day we live. This means that even the days of adversity are meant to be days of contentment. If this was the song Jesus sang the night he instituted the Lord’s Supper, he gave testimony of contentment while facing death.

When Paul spoke to the Ephesians about a Spirit-filled life, one thing he said was, “Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Ephesians 5:20, NASB).

All the experiences of life, the shade, the showers, and the sunshine are working together for our good.

IV. Approach Each Day With Commitment, 27.

“...Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.”

It is said that Nathan Hale, a young patriot of the Revolutionary War, was captured and hanged by the British. Before being executed they asked him if he had anything to say. His last words were, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” A child of God’s only regret in life should be that he or she only has one life to live for God.

The word sacrifice has to do with more than just dying; it also has to do with living. The writer of Hebrews said, “And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:¬16, NASB).

Genuine commitment seeks a gift that can fittingly represent itself. Therefore, it always takes the form of sacrifice. A gift that costs something is a gift that involves self-denial. A gift that costs nothing is a gift rejected by God.

Jesus died willingly for a lost world, and if it had required the sacrifice, he would just as willingly have died again. The cord which bound Jesus to sacrifice himself for a lost world was love. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:1¬3,NASB).