It does not take long (even for the casual reader of the New Testament) to recognize the importance that is placed upon such terms now, today, or daily! Most of us look at our schedules and calendars, and we find that our lives have become regimented by the demands placed on us at the work place, appointments here, doing this, doing that, going here, traveling there, pick-up this, deliver that, a meeting here, and a deadline there! If we are not extremely careful we can become like the one in James 4:13-15, who takes the approach,” To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye now not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we will do this, or that.”
Just think for a moment, has life become so routine, planned, and scheduled that we have gotten to the point where we take life for granted? Have we become so involved is this world and what this world has to offer, that we have lost sight of God? When that occurs, what becomes of the thing I treasure (Matt. 6:19-21)? Upon what have I set my affections (Col. 3:1-2)? What priorities do I find myself pursuing (Matt. 6:33; 1 John 2:15-17)? Do we recognize the dangerous “exchange” which can take place so very quickly which has eternal consequences (Matt. 16:26; Mark 8:36-37)?
Let us just take a few moments to see the emphasis that the New Testament places on daily:
- Daily we should pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11).
- Our Lord taught daily. “I sat daily with you teaching in the temple” (Matt. 26:55). Look also at Mark 14:49; Luke 19:47; 22:53; Acts 5:42
- The early church in Jerusalem was characterized in this manner. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:46).
- The church in Jerusalem was involved in a daily ministration on behalf of the widows. Notice: “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1).
- Brethren also searched the Scriptures daily! “These were more noble that those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11).
- Paul taught daily in what we might have been able to call a school of preaching! “But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but speak evil of that way before the multitude, he [Paul] departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing in the school of one Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9).
- Paul’s life was placed in jeopardy daily. “And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:30-31)!
- There was also Paul’s daily care concerning the church. “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28).
- As brethren, we are to exhort each other daily. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).
All you have to do is get our your concordances to find the listing of these references. There can be no doubt about it: Daily did, and daily does make a difference! Think about this: What would happen if each one of us would grab hold of every opportunity, and daily we busied ourselves in prayer, acts of benevolence, study, teaching, exhorting one another, and living an exemplary life before the world?
Let us not get caught up in the “hum-drum” routine of simply existing day to day, but let us present ourselves as “a living sacrifice” unto God (Rom. 12:1) and “do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). May each one of us make Christianity our daily manner of life, and keep our life in proper perspective!
