Enjoy The Day, We Do Not Have Many Of Them - Psalm 118:24 Series

Enjoy the Day, We Do Not Have Many of Them - Psalm 118:24

Psalm 118:24 (NLT) – “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Introduction

How often do we let the gift of today slip through our fingers, weighed down by worries of tomorrow or regrets of yesterday? Our lives are made up of a finite number of days, each one crafted by God for a specific purpose. Yet how many of us truly enjoy the day, recognising that it is a precious, irreplaceable gift?

Today, we’ll focus on the biblical truth that each day is a blessing from God, and we are called to rejoice in it, regardless of the circumstances. In this sermon, we will delve into what it means to truly live each day in light of God’s grace, how to treasure the moments we are given, and why it is crucial to live fully for the Lord now, while we still have time.

1. Today is a Gift from God: A Day to Rejoice

Let’s begin by reflecting on Psalm 118:24 (NLT): “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” The Hebrew word for "rejoice" is ?????? (samach), which means to be joyful, to delight in, or to express joy. The psalmist is not speaking of a passive emotion, but a deliberate choice to take joy in the day, despite what the day may hold.

Every day is a gift from God, a new opportunity to experience His goodness. This is echoed in Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT): “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Every day we wake up, God extends new mercies toward us. This is something worth rejoicing over! No matter what happened yesterday or what may come tomorrow, God has given us the present moment to live in His grace.

But how do we do this practically? Philippians 4:4 (NLT) instructs us, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” Rejoicing is not tied to our circumstances, but to our relationship with God. Even when life is challenging, we can rejoice because God is sovereign and His love never fails.

Charles Spurgeon said it well: “It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” We often wait for better circumstances to enjoy life, but the Bible encourages us to rejoice in the day we have been given, knowing that God’s presence is with us.

2. The Brevity of Life: We Do Not Have Many Days

The second truth we must face is the reality that our days on earth are numbered. Psalm 90:12 (NLT) teaches us to “Teach us to realise the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” The Hebrew word used for "brevity" here is ??????? (minyan), which carries the meaning of a finite count or limited number. Our time on this earth is brief in the grand scheme of eternity.

James 4:14 (NLT) adds a stark reminder: “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” Life is fleeting, like a mist that vanishes. We must, therefore, live with a sense of urgency, treasuring each day as an opportunity to serve God and others.

Living in light of life’s brevity compels us to prioritise what truly matters. We are not promised tomorrow. We should invest our time, energy, and affection in things that have eternal value, as Matthew 6:19-20 (NLT) instructs us: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” Our days should be filled with activities that glorify God and bless others, not wasted on trivial pursuits or selfish ambitions.

A.W. Tozer once said, “Time is a resource that is non-renewable and non-transferable. You cannot store it up, slow it up, hold it up, divide it up, or give it up. You can only use it or lose it.” Let us be mindful to use the time we have wisely.

3. Trusting God with Tomorrow: Do Not Worry

Another crucial aspect of enjoying the day is trusting God with the future. So often, we allow the worries of tomorrow to rob us of today’s joy. But Jesus instructs us clearly in Matthew 6:34 (NLT): “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” The Greek word for "worry" used here is µe??µ??? (merimnao), meaning to be anxious or overly concerned. Jesus tells us not to allow the uncertainty of tomorrow to weigh us down today.