This Is the Day the Lord Has Madeनमूना

## THIS IS THE DAY! It is February 3rd, a long-awaited day of much anticipation. My son, Rowen, will have his three-year birthday party and - WOWZAS! - was he excited! For months, we planned, organized, and handcrafted everything necessary to throw Rowen his birthday party. He patiently waited week after week, anticipating the coming of this special day. One of Rowen’s friends, also three years old, woke up early on this very special morning and ran through her house yelling, “This is Rowen’s birthday!” and put on a special outfit. She’s got the right idea. This is the day! The day that these two three-year-olds had waited for in prolonged suffering. Rowen’s entire life had been building to this moment, the day he would become a “big boy” and turn three. It is a momentous occasion. As important as a three-year-old birthday party is to a three-year-old, and I am by no means diminishing the significance in Rowen's life, imagine now that you, and your family, and your entire community, and dozens of generations of your family and your neighbors, have all been waiting for one thing: A Savior that will come and bring redemption. That's what we commemorate and celebrate this Easter, "This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" This is the day the Lord finally brought redemption for His people. Wake up early, run through your home, and shout, "This is the day that the LORD has made!" For Jesus has become the cornerstone to the gates of righteousness. As we look to Jesus the Savior with faith and work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12), we can share in the words of the Psalmist: > Open to me the gates of righteousness, > that I may enter through them > and give thanks to the Lord. > This is the gate of the Lord; > the righteous shall enter through it. (Psalm 118:19-20) Zach Larsen, Student Ministry Director