Verse of the Day for November 17

Most people know verse 24 from wall plaques and morning songs. It helps to know which day it was talking about. Verse 22 has just said The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

So the day the Lord has made is a particular kind of day. The day the rejected thing was put in the place of honour. The door that was shut in your face, opened by someone else. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

The people do not take credit. They see the door open and they name the one who opened it. Then, in the very next breath, Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD. In Hebrew that cry is hosanna, the word the crowds shouted when Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

Gratitude for an open door does not mean you have stopped needing God. It means you have seen what he can do, and so you ask him again for the next step.

If something has opened for you lately, a place at school, a contract, a friendship mended after years, say clearly whose doing it was. Then walk through it still praying hosanna.

When a door opens, the first word should be about whose doing it was.

Thanks and hosanna belong in the same breath.