This is the day of the LORD’s victory; let us be happy, let us celebrate! Psalm 118:24, GNT

 

A great victory has been achieved, and the enemies of God’s chosen people have been defeated. Everyone has gathered at the temple to praise and worship the Lord. In eloquent, poetic language, the author of this psalm describes how they have triumphed in the name of God. The people reflect not only on the great victory but also on the future of their nation.

 

Psalm 118:22 says, “The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.” The small nation of Israel became a cornerstone for all nations because they were God’s chosen people in the past, present and future. In Luke 20:17, Jesus applied this verse to himself. The concept of a cornerstone extends far beyond the time when the psalm was written; it pointed into the distant future.

 

Reflecting on the past and planning for the future are both important, but today’s verse emphasises the significance of the present moment. The festival celebrating the victory must be enjoyed on that very day. We can become so absorbed in past events or so focused on future plans, that we overlook the importance of experiencing God’s grace today. When this happens, we risk missing out on the joy of praise, worship and serving the Lord in the present. We might even forget to celebrate and find happiness in the Lord, losing sight of our commitment to building his church.

 

Taking a moment to step back and appreciate what we have built the day before is both pleasant and necessary. While it is essential to plan for how the future church should look, we must not lose sight of the needs of people in the present. Whether they are hungry, cold, sad or sick, their needs cannot wait until tomorrow.

 

When we see how God’s grace touches us today, it opens our eyes to those who need our immediate help.

 

Prayer: Father, how can we ever praise and worship you enough? Thank you for loving me today, as you have loved me yesterday and will love me tomorrow. Amen.