By Keith Robinson
Look at your calendar, January 2021 will soon be over! Our lives have been consumed with pandemics, politics, and worries about things that will never happen. We are overwhelmed about tomorrow and filled with regret over our yesterdays. The Lord warned us about living in the present! He said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” (Matt 6:34)
Almost five centuries ago Martin Luther said, “On my calendar there are only two days – today and that day.” “That day” was a reference to The Judgement Seat of Christ when as a Christian, Martin Luther would stand before God and give an accounting of how he spent his life. We have today! We don’t have yesterday or tomorrow, but today!
Today we should live with confidence, holy optimism, and a firm faith that God will help us make this day count for “that day.” Whether we are raising kids, working a secular job, or preaching from the pulpit, today is about “that day.” The scripture should embolden the believer to make today count. He reminds us that He is for us.
GOD IS FOR YOU. Get a hold of that simple truth. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). He’s for you, your family, your health, your career, and your future. He is unequivocally for you! He loves you! Listen to it from the Message: “Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves; does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you?” (Galatians 3:5). God’s not interested in your anxiety-laced strivings. He’s for you! He wants you to live in the power of His love and grace! This very day he wants to flow through you, bless you, and empower you to accomplish His will. Live today with assurance.
GOD WILL GIVE TO YOU. Our carnal nature is insatiable. For some it manifests itself in fear and panic, for others greed. The Spirit-filled Christian has a sense of peace because he knows God will give to us. “God did not keep back His own Son, but He gave Him for us. If God did this, won't He freely give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32). I can live this day knowing that God is already meeting the need. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). Live today in His abundance.
GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU. We have reached shoutin’ ground now. We should live today knowing that we are forgiven. The song writer knew how to express it!
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!
“But if we confess our sins, He will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done.” 1 John 1:9 (NCV)
GOD WILL NOT LEAVE YOU. You’re not alone! You may feel lonely at times, but today you’re not alone. “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39). God chooses to partner with You! He could have chosen angels for a partnership, but He chose you! He chose you to be His voice, His hands, His feet, His eyes, His heart. He chose you! He chose you to accomplish His will. He’s your partner. He lives in you. “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6). Live today in His company!
Remember there’s only two days, today, and “That Day.”
If you are following our “Daily Bible-Reading Plan,” today's passages are John 19 & Psalm 22.