Do You Know What Today Is?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

KJV

1 Thes. 5:16 Rejoice evermore.

Message

1 Thes. 5:16 Be cheerful no matter what;

NLT

1 Thes. 5:16 Always be joyful.

NIV

Thes. 5:16 Be joyful always;

Let me ask you a question?

Is wisdom wisdom if you never use it?

I was told a story of a multi-millionaire in the old west.

He would often need someone to drive their horse drawn coach

places to take his children. He was only going to hire the best driver

of the day.

He took the top two candidates up on a mountain trail. He would

test the two drivers and give the job to the best driver. The mountain

trail went pass some very steep cliffs.

The millionaire told the young man to drive first.

The young man drove down the road and to the cliff area.

The young man demonstrated his driving skills.

He drove within 1/2 inch of the cliff’s edge as fast as the horses could

run. The young man was really a daredevil and took many chances.

Once two of the wheels were on the lip of the edge.

The dad was amazed at both the speed and the accuracy of the

young man’s skills.

Then the Father tested the other candidate for the job.

As the man drove down the mountain roadway he took his

time and he stayed as great a distance as he could away from

the steep cliffs. He used great skill to drive the horse driven coach.

He seemed to communicate with the horses and he avoided any

danger before them.

NOW, WHICH DRIVER DID THE FATHER HIRE TO DRIVE HIS

CHILDREN? He hired the mature one, the one that would never

endanger the lives of his precious cargo.

WISDOM IS NOT ALWAYS A CIRCUS?

I. HAVE YOU EVER FORGOT WHAT TODAY IS?

A. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS?

Today is my 38th anniversary. Oct 24, 1970 I married Linda McDowell.

Twice I forgot our wedding anniversary... they should break a man’s finger for forgetting his anniversary.

One year I noted Linda was acting strangely? We went to bed, and Linda said

YOU FORGOT! I said: FORGOT WHAT?

She replied: Our anniversary!

I said: No, I didn’t forget, I ran and got $20.00 out of my billfold and gave it to her.

B. THE VERY NEXT YEAR, LINDA WAS ACTING STRANELY? (I am slow?)

We went to bed, she said: YOU FORGOT OUR ANNIVERSARY AGAIN...

I said: NO, I didn’t I just wanted to see if you remembered? I got up to go get her some money...

SHE SAID: YESTERDAY WAS OUR ANNIVERSAY, I JUST WANTED TO WAIT AND

SEE WHAT YOU WOULD DO...

C. I probably have never forgot my birthday?

I have never forgot CHRISTMAS... !!!

D. OFTEN I FORGET WHAT TODAY IS --- TODAY IS A DAY MADE BY OUR GOD FOR

US ... GOD’S DESIGN FOR THIS DAY IS VERY CLEAR --- CELEBRATE... ENJOY LIFE... Today has a DIVINE PURPOSE...

KJV:

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Message:

Psalm 118:24 This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive!

E. OFTEN NEW TESTAMNET BELIEVERS GREETED ONE ANOTHER WITH THE WORD:

REJOICE! So rejoice was a salutation expressing a good wish for a blessing on a person!

F. DO WE REJOICE IN JEHOVAH?

II. GOD MADE TODAY! GOD MADE TODAY FOR US! GOD MADE TODAY FOR

US TO REJOICE AND BE GLAD.

A. WHEN I TAUGHT SCHOOL --- I hated to loan my students my magic markers... I could use them forever and they worked... I could loan my markers to the students and they would press hard and absolutely ruin the tips on the markers.

So one day I refused to loan the markers. When I went to use them --- they were dried up --- worthless... while I saved my markers --- I also lost them?

Philip. 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

B. THERE ARE MANY LITERARY TOOLS THAT SCHOLARS KNOW...

ONE LITERARY TOOL IS THE POWER OF REPETITION.

Every Mom knows there is power in repeating something if you want someone

to hear...

C. PAUL KNEW THE LITERARY TOOL OF REPETITION:

KJV:

Philip. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

MESSAGE:

Philip. 4:4 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!

LIVING:

Philip. 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!

III. WHAT IS GOD’S JOY? DOES GOD JOY DIFFER FROM THIS WORLD’S

JOY?

1 Tim. 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.