Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
Verse 2Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
Verse 14The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
Verse 15There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
Verse 16the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly."
Verse 17I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
Verse 18The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
Verse 19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
Verse 20This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
Verse 21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
Verse 22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
Verse 23This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
Verse 24This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Devotion
How was your day? "Oh, it was nothing special. Kind of
boring and ordinary, just like the rest." How often have
you come home and said such a thing to your loved ones?
But this day, just like all the other days, was created
by God for our use and our enjoyment. So how can we
treat it in such an off-hand manner? Every day is a new
creation, made fresh by God. In it we have the chance
to praise God and to relish the company of our family,
friends and neighbors. This day we have the chance to be
about God's work, to witness to the glory of God and to
be little Christs to one another. This is a day to rejoice—
rejoice in the goodness and the glory of God—and to be
glad for yet another day to live for the God who has
made us.
Prayer
Lord, create in us a joyful heart that we may rejoice in all
the days you give us. Amen.