Day By Day Christianity
Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Daily Living As A Christian
TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS PRACTICED DAY BY DAY.
Not that there is no interest at all in tomorrow or yesterday, but that TODAY is the arena of action for a Christian.
2 Corinthians 6:2; “…behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation”
Hebrews 3:7-8 “…Today, if you hear His voice. Do not harden your hearts…”
Not tomorrow--as if tomorrow I will live it. Tomorrow cannot be presumed. James 4:13-17
Not yesterday--as if the deeds or experiences of the past can substitute for those of today.

Daily, We Renew Our Commitment To Him
Each day, we consciously reaffirm our decision to come and follow him.
We should not only do this on Sunday, but everyday.
This is not only done in the past, but everyday.
Joshua 24:15.”…as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”
Just as Israel offered her sacrifices daily (Numbers 28:3,24; Ezra 3:4; Luke 1:5,8),
Each day we offer our sacrifice anew. Romans 12:1.
We do not know if today is the day that the Lord may come (Matthew 24:50). Nobody knows.
Since each day is potentially the day of judgment, each day is the setting in which we show the Lord the reality of our repentance.
Words are not enough, we must “bring forth fruit of repentance” Luke 3:7-9;
“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night…”2 Peter 3:10, 11, 14

Daily Prayer
With the daily sacrifices went the daily prayers (Luke 1:8,10).
So with us. (Matthew 6:5-13).
Consider...
The example of Christ. Mark 1:35
The example of OT saints. Daniel 6:10; Psalm 55:17
The example of the apostles. Acts 6:4; 3:1; 10:9
Each day calls forth praise to God. Psalm 145:2; 96:2; Matthew 6:9-10.
Praise to him . . .
Who is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) and with whom a thousand years are as one day, and one day as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8).
Who made the day. Psalm 118:24 (Genesis 1:3-5)
Who "daily loadeth us with benefits." Psalm 68:19.
We should not receive the day, then, without prayer...
Ask:
For his blessings on our labors (Psalm. 127:1).
For his strength, protection, and help.
Would we dare launch ahead into it without him (John 15:5; 1 Peter 4:11)?
Several times the children launched a campaign without God’s approval Numbers 14:39-45 is one example.
For his forgiveness (Matthew 6:12).
When our time on earth is short, I am sure that most people would wish they had spent more time in prayer.

Daily Bread
The body requires daily bread to be renewed and enabled to function.
The Bible speaks here and there of the minimal daily portion of food required.
The people were told to gather manna, but only for a daily portion.
The spirit needs the same (2 Corinthians 4:16).
We must be spiritually nourished daily.
God provides daily manna for such if we will but gather it.
We are in need of daily edification from the Word. (1 Peter 2:1-2; Psalm 1:2.)
Spiritual bread comes to us everyday.
It is all in how we perceive such things we usually might take for granted.
Sleep and wakening--reminds us of the grace of conversion, revival, renewal, resurrection. “Awake sleeper, and rise from the dead…” Ephesians 5:14
Breaking of Day--reminds us of the breaking of eternity, and that "the night is far spent, and the day is at hand" (Romans 13:12).
Light of Day--reminds us that “God is Light” (1 John 1:5); that we cannot hide from his light (Hebrews 4:13); and that we must walk "as in the day" (Romans 13:13) "as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).
Close of day--reminds us that God too “draws our lives to a conclusion” (Psalm 104:29) and will also bring all history to a close.

Daily Work
We are servants, with assigned work (Mark 13:34).
We are like farmers, who when they rise see their work is laid out before them, work that can only be accomplished in the day. John 9:4-5.
There is no "day off."
As servants, we consider the wages that we might have at the close of the day (Romans 6:23; Luke 23:43).
There is a harvest to gather (Matthew 9:36-38).
When can one take a vacation from being a Christian?
And generally there is every possible good work that presents itself.
“We must do good to all men” Galatians 6:10.
“work according to God’s will” James 4:13-17
Helping the needy (James 2:15).
Edifying the saints (Hebrews 3:13; Acts 20:31).
So much that we can (and should) do.

Conclusion
Each day brings evils, trials, troubles.
Some days we are reminded of our blessings.
Each day, we must realize that “His grace is sufficient” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“God will supply all our needs” Philippians 4:19
This, as with all the rest, must be encountered and borne one day at a time Matthew 6:34.
May God help us to follow the Lord Jesus day by day.

By Carey Scott based on an outline by Tim Mize

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