“TODAY”

The word today, is defined by Merriam-Webster online dictionary as follows: as an adverb, “1. on or for this day; 2. at the present time.” As a noun, “the present day, time or age.” As an adjective, “of or characteristic of today: NOW.”

Just think of what “today” is as expressed in the Bible -- “Today” is “the day which the Lord hath made” (Psa. 118:24). Not only is this day (today) made possible by the Lord’s power, every day from the day of creation and until the day the Lords comes in “flaming fire” (2 Thess. 1:7-9; cf. 1 Gen. 1, 2; 2 Pet. 3:7-12) and the day all the faithful saints of all ages are “caught up” to “to meet the Lord in the air” and will “always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:13-18), is “the day which the Lord hath made.” God is in control!

“Today” is the day of salvation. Paul exhorted the Corinthians to NOT receive God’s grace in vain and he quoted from Isaiah 49:8 and wrote, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)” (2 Cor. 6:2).

“Today” is the day to hear the voice of God, that is to obey His commands and words of instruction and admonition, lest your hearts be hardened by sin as those of old were (Heb. 3:7-12).

“Today” is the day of exhortation lest your own heart or the heart of your brethren “be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13-15). What brethren have you exhorted lately? If none, then consider the fact that the Hebrew writer reveals that you have a “hardened” heart!

But, what is “TODAY”?

“Today,” January 1, 2023, is the first day of 2023! But more importantly, “today” is the “Lord’s Day” (Rev. 1:10), the “first day of the week” (Matt. 28:1; Mk. 16:2, 9; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2) – the day Christ rose from the dead, the day faithful saints in the first century gathered together to remember Christ’s death on the cross by partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine He instituted (Matt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:13-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26) and the day of worship to God “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24; cf. Heb. 12:28-29).

My beloved brethren “today” is all the things previously mentioned and so many more! For example, we can say that “today” is the day you should be reading and studying the inspired scriptures (Eph. 3:3-5; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). “Today” is the day to humble yourselves to God and your brethren (1 Pet. 5:5-6). “Today” is the day you should be “casting all your care upon him” because “He cares for you” (1 Pet, 5:7). “Today” is the day to soberly watch for, and resist the devil, “steadfastly in the faith” as your faithful brethren so do (1 Pet. 5:8-9), so that God will, “perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” as you give Him glory in so doing (1 Pet. 5:10-11).

“Today” is the day of rejoicing and thanksgiving (1 Thess. 5:16-18). “Today” is the day of forgiveness and divine help available to Christians at the “throne of grace” when we humbly and boldly come to God in prayer through our “great High Priest” Jesus (Heb. 4:14-16). “Today” is the day you should “commit your souls to God” (1 Pet. 4:19), according to the example Jesus left for us as Peter wrote about in his epistle of 1 Peter 2:21-23 – “For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.”

Yes, “today” used in the sense as we defined this word at the beginning of this writing can be applied in so many ways. I could spend all day “today” and even until tomorrow – if it is the Lord’s will that tomorrow come (Jas. 4:13-17) – discussing the significance of “today”!

Finally, “today” is the first day of the rest of the lives of all who are living. For some, “today” will be their last day and tomorrow will never come. But “today” is “today”! What is “today” for you as a child of God?

What is “today” to those who have not scripturally obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ? If you desire to be saved from your sins and have the hope of eternal life in heaven with God, Christ and all the faithful, then “today” can be the best day of the rest of your life by humbly hearing God’s’ word (Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:36-37), by believing it (Rom. 10:9-10), by repenting of sinful living (Acts 17:30), by confessing your faith in Christ as God’s risen Son (Rom. 10:9), by being buried with Christ in baptism to wash away your sins (Acts 22:16; 2:38-39) and living faithfully to God the rest of your life on earth (Rev. 2:10)!

How important is “today” to you? How will you regard “today”? – tgmc 

Where Will I Be In Another Year?
By Greg Gwin

With the end of a calendar year and the beginning of a new one, there is always a tendency to look back — and to look forward. Evaluations are made in regards to our financial status, our career pursuits, and other important matters. Surely it is appropriate to evaluate our spiritual

welfare.

Ask yourself this simple question: If I keep doing what I am presently doing, where will I be in another year?

• Will I be a stronger Christian because I am doing things that will help me grow in Christ (2 Pet. 3:18)? Or, will I be weaker as a result of continuing to ignore the most important things in life?

• Will I be a better Bible student? Will my knowledge of the Word have increased through regular and consistent study? Or, will I still be only wishing that I knew my Bible better.

• Will I have brought any lost soul to the Lord through a committed effort to teach others? Will I have invited folks to visit the assemblies, or encouraged them to have a private Bible study? Or, will I only be giving lip-service to the whole notion of personal work?

• Will I improve in my ability to react to life’s provocations in a godly and controlled manner?

• Will I be displaying more of the “divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4) as I deal with people and problems? Or, will I still be easily provoked and often fail as trials and temptations are placed before me?

• Will I have broken that “bad habit” that has nagged me for so long? Or, will I still be offering lame excuses and trying to convince myself that “I can’t”?

• Will my example be stronger? Will others begin to recognize dependability in me? Will I be constantly striving to do all I can as a disciple (1 Cor. 15:58)? Or, will I be counted as only a “lukewarm” Christian (Rev. 3:15-17)?

If I keep doing what I’m presently doing, where will I be in another year? Or, more to the point, where will I be in eternity? Think!