Sunshine throughout the majority of the country. Fresh cut grass. Red dirt and chalk lines. Old friends getting together and old rivals battling it out…
If you’re like a lot of folks I know (myself sort of included), you may have started yesterday off giddy with excitement. “Why?” you may ask – two words… Opening Day.
Now, in all honesty, there are other “opening days” that I get a little more excited for (dove hunting, in particular…although I’m still trying to figure out the best protocol for that, here in Alabama), but it was still an exciting day, mainly because the Washington Nationals and the Texas Rangers, my National and American League faves, began yet another season on Monday (and both came away with wins!). People have waited months for the day, anticipating pitchers and catchers reporting for pre-season, broadcasting via social media family trips to Spring Training in either Florida or Arizona, and otherwise just enjoying our nation’s great past-time, baseball. It really is a fun season.
But I was met with a bit of conviction yesterday, as well. There are great days that happen over the course of the year that I actually don’t meet with the same amount of excitement. In fact, every single morning that the Lord gives me breath and life, it is a new day that I could, that I should, greet with excitement, with joy, with faith that the Lord has given me more time to live for him, to share his gospel and to make much of Jesus.
Everyday is a day to be lived for the glory of Christ Jesus, regardless what the day may bring.
Two passages of scripture came to mind, in particular – the first was Psalm 118.24 where the psalmist remind us “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (ESV) And that’s not just on baseball season’s Opening Day! The second was more along the lines of when we wake up with the foreknowledge that, in things we may be dealing with or expecting to encounter in the next 24 hours, there may be some hard things going on – “…the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid…” (Psalm 111.6-8a, ESV)
In both trying and exciting circumstances, the believer has the ability to trust in the sovereign Lord who didn’t just give us a day to walk through, to get through, in order to pursue things – he sovereignly ordered our steps during the course of the day to walk in faith, in hope, in love and to magnify the glory of Jesus.
Your day may have begun today with even more excitement than the one before…your team already started out undefeated on the season and things are looking absolutely incredible in your life. It may have begun with the burdens of life – finances and family and everything else – weighing heavily on your shoulders. Regardless, as Christians, we know the one who ordered our steps and holds every second of all of creation in His hands.
That is cause enough to celebrate each day with great joy.
This is mainly just a reminder to myself, as the ups and downs of life can sometimes take their toll. And yet, this is a reminder to you, believer, to walk in faith and trust that the Lord has you, regardless what the day may hold. And for you, if you don’t know Christ, that you can greet each day with a joy that surpasses anything in this world, by coming to faith in the Creator.
May we desire to greet each day with the excitement of an Opening Day.