Today is the Day

Have you ever given consideration to the stewardship of “the day?” By that, I mean, “What if today was not what you made it (as if you were master of the day) but an assignment to be discerned, carried out, and celebrated?” 

I have been “the guy” who thought of the calendar as an obstacle rather than an opportunity; a challenge rather than a commission. If I could control the appointments, arrange the flow of activities, choose the level of energy needed for each encounter, delegate away some of the less significant tasks…THEN I could look back on the day and talk about all that I had done. What if though, I had an assignment in the day that was completely overlooked in the hustle and hurry of my effective administration? 

Someone asked me recently about a weakness or struggle that I knew about myself. I responded that, at times, I moved too quickly through a room. Even when pastoring, my default was to maximize my time and get to the front and in position at just the right time. In fact, after watching one of my mentors engage the same crowds, I realized that I needed to intentionally slow down. I would often pray for the Lord to show me His divine appointments in the conversations that I might have along the way. Sure, I needed to be at the front when the clock struck 00:00, but I also needed to maximize the appointments that God might have along the way. 

The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that God is in the appointment business. He appoints everything under heaven. 

¹There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— 

Ecclesiastes 3:1, NASB95

Often, the moments that we pass through are appointments affecting eternity for others. That disabled vehicle on the side of the road. The conversation after prayers with your son as you tuck him in. The Car rider line. The chit-chat with a co-worker over lunch. Any one of these may be an appointment that affects eternity. 

²for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 

2 Corinthians 6:2, NASB95

Finally, since God assigns the moments and controls all of the circumstances, we can rejoice in every element of the day. We can be grateful for the traffic stall on the highway, or the appliance repair that we have to arrange on the hone. We can thank the Lord that our coffee order is delayed for a fresh pot that is being brewed. Each one of these moments is divinely appointed. 

²⁴This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

Psalm 118:24, NASB95

Today, the Lord will entrust you with 86,400 seconds. He has appointed some of them for eternal purposes. Make the most of every opportunity and rejoice…for the Lord made the day!