God Gave You This Day

Today is National Banana Split Day.

According to the National Day Calendar of unusual and little known holidays, the banana split was not created in an ice cream parlor, but in a pharmacy in 1904. It was the brainchild of David Evans Strickler, a pharmacist’s apprentice, who enjoyed experimenting with soda fountain sundaes in his free time.

The banana split was so popular that college students paid 10 cents, double the price of a normal sundae.

Do you know what else today is?

“This is the day which the LORD hath made” the Psalmist proclaimed.

Then he exclaimed, “We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).

1. “This is the day.”

Today. This day. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is only a vision. Today’s all we have.

Charles Kingsley offered this sage counsel, “Do today’s duty, fight today’s temptation; do not weaken and distract yourself by looking forward to things you cannot see, and could not understand if you saw them.”

This day remember who you are. A person created in God’s image with worth. Value. And dignity.

This day be nice to another person. A friend. A neighbor A co-worker. Maybe even a family member.

This day forgive others’ trespasses. Life’s too short to hold a grudge. Forgive. Forget. And let go.

This day lend a helping hand. Offer an encouraging word.

Make the most of this day.

2. “The Lord has made.’

In Bill Keane’s comic strip, Family circus, he has Dolly sharing this bit of wisdom with her little brother P.J. “Yesterday’s the past. Tomorrow’s the future. But today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”

That God gave us today, is something we too often overlook. Or forget. This day is here because God is. He’s providentially involved in this day.

This day thank God for your blessings.

This day meditate on God’s Word. Even if it is just a verse. Think. Ponder. And contemplate on what it means to you.

This day think about who He is. And thank God for this day.

3. “Rejoice.”

199 times the Bible exhorts God’s people to “rejoice.” Those who belong to God and enjoy His grace and goodness have a reason for rejoicing.

Psalm 118 is a praise psalm giving thanks for God’s love and everlasting mercy. There’s even a Messianic reference that’s quoted in the New Testament (Ps 118:22; Ax. 4:11; 1 Pet. 4:7).

There are many reasons today to “rejoice in the Lord.” Physical protection. Material abundance. Spiritual blessings. Good friends. Loving family. Caring brethren. These and so many more blessings elicit rejoicing this day.

The hymn “O Happy Day” reminds us of our underlying motivation to rejoice. “Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away! He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day.”

4.”Be glad in it.”

The Psalmist doubled down on the attitude we should possess about this day. As Spurgeon expressed it, “Rejoice in the heart and be glad in the face. Rejoice in secret, and be glad in public.”

This day I will smile instead of frown.

This day I will allow “the gladness in my heart” (Ps. 4:7) to be seen in my eyes. Heard in my voice. And felt in my presence.

This day “I will serve the Lord with gladness” (Ps 100:2).

Alan Redpath reminds us, “The Devil’s calendar always says tomorrow. God’s calendar always says today.” This day.

Enjoy this day. Celebrate this day. Find good in this day. Thank God for this day. In fact, why not splurge and enjoy a banana split. After all, this is the day…

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman