“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 KJV)
I know! The heading above sounds title like a movie title of a feature file that has a catastrophic event that changes life on earth, “The Day After Tomorrow.” The latter refers to a disaster. The title I have chosen relates to deliverance. The movie title refers to an emergency. Our meditation title relates to the emergence of a salvation, reconciliation, and a peace with God.
This is Saturday, December 23, 2023, the day before Christmas Eve. Yes, it is the day before tomorrow, a day that precedes one of those holidays that see the church filled with more people that other Sundays. The late and great Dr. F. Benjamin Davis, the pastor who baptized me as a child, called people who only come to church on certain holidays as ETC (etcetera) Christians. Well, spread the news! Why wait to go to church, excited on Christmas Eve? Why not set your alarm clocks tonight to make sure you get up early, energized and entirely ready for worship in spirit and in truth? Why wait to escalate the feeling of joy internally until December 24th when you can do that today, the day before tomorrow?
Today is the day before Christmas Eve, “The Day Before Tomorrow,” so start anticipating the most celebrated Sunday of the year, the Sunday on which the Christian world will celebrate the birth of Christ, our Deliverer, the One who made our salvation possible! Frankly speaking, I think we should do this every day. Nevertheless, right now, start changing your disposition and don’t delay your escalated joy. In fact, change you position right now and fall on your knees or just look to heaven and thank God for sending His only begotten Son! Praise God right now for the present that He presented to the entire world! Thank God again that you are one of the beings who received the most beautiful and beneficial gift ever given! Show your gratitude now, the day before tomorrow, and do not wait until Christmas Eve to be especially grateful, for if you do, you might lose focus on the real reason for the season.
This is the “The Day Before Tomorrow.” Yes, it is a Saturday, but you can come into the presence of the Lord today by boldly approaching the throne of our gracious God. Today you can wake up with your mind “stayed on Jesus!” Listen! Why put yourself in jeopardy, waiting until Christmas Eve comes and why take the risk that the world will rob you of realizing the significance of Jesus coming, taking on flesh and dwelling among us? Why wait until the saints sing traditional Christmas songs in the sanctuary on Sunday? Sing in the setting you are in right now and throughout the day! Make your own song! Sing unto the Lord a new song from your heart! And guess what? That will prepare your for tomorrow, Christmas Eve, from a more meaningful perspective.
Now that I have addressed the day before tomorrow, let me close by saying, as it relates to the day after tomorrow, Christmas morning, be sure to give thanks to the Lord for His gift before opening any other gift. While other gifts will be outgrown, never really used, donated, or even regifted, perhaps criticized in a negative way after faking like you were pleased with what you were given, when it comes to God’s gift, realize it is valuable and the key to our victory, one that is eternal.
Lest you forget as soon as you finish reading the aforementioned, let me remind you to remember what you have been told above about “The Day Before Tomorrow.” Now, go and have a marvelous day, rejoicing all the way! Be blessed!
“ I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love, Because You have seen my affliction; You have taken note of my life’s distresses, and You have not given me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a broad place.” (Psalm 31:8-9 The Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King