“LIFE! ONE DAY AT A TIME”
The Sermon on the Mount is a God given pattern for us to live our lives by. Jesus, in the sixth chapter, clearly points out what is important in living daily. From Matthew 6:19 – 34, Jesus, five times, use the words, “take no thought” (vs. 23, 27, 28, 31, 34). You get the idea that a Christian need not spend his time worrying about such matters as food and raiment provided he follows this verse, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33). Also in these verses he gives admonition that relates to it; such as, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures,” “if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light,” and “No man can serve two masters.”
We must live one day at a time. Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). We can’t live in the future for Jesus said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Mt. 6:34). One day at a time! We can’t live in the past for the scriptures say, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Paul said we put those things behind and look to the future (Phil 3:13-14). In the book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living Dale Carnegie has a chapter on Don’t Try to Saw Sawdust by which he points out the biblical principle that yesterday is gone. One day at a time!
The Apostle Peter tells us how to make the best of that day. He wrote, “ For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Pet. 3:10-11). Here is how to live one day at a time and get the most out of it:
1. Watch your mouth. Don’t be a gossip. Don’t lie! You will give an account of idle words (Mt. 12:36)! Let no corrupt communication come from your mouth (Eph. 4:29).
2. Hate evil. Paul said to abstain from the appearance of it (1 Thess. 5:22). This will keep you out of a lot of trouble.
3. Do good. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Gal. 6:10).
4. Seek peace and ensue it. Ensue means to “pursue” from some translations. You search for peace and then maintain it (Phil 4:6-8). It will help you sleep at night.
One day at a time! You will enjoy your day and sleep good at night.
