Today's The Day

Devotional

Day 1: Clinging to "Today" in the Treasure Hunt of Faith

The story of Mel Fisher’s 16-year search for sunken treasure mirrors the relentless pursuit of God’s promises. Like Fisher’s crew declaring “Today is the day” through storms and setbacks, believers are called to anchor their hope in the present moment. Faith thrives not in the nostalgia of yesterday or the uncertainty of tomorrow, but in the urgency of now. The treasure of God’s presence, healing, and purpose isn’t buried in distant possibilities—it’s accessible today. Delay hardens hearts; obedience softens them. Every sunrise is an invitation to dig deeper. [05:03]

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, ESV)

Reflection: What promise or calling have you postponed until “tomorrow”? How can you actively engage with it today?

Day 2: Sycamore Trees and Sudden Surrender

Zacchaeus didn’t wait for a better moment to encounter Jesus—he climbed a tree in broad daylight, ignoring pride and reputation. His story proves that radical obedience happens in messy, unpolished moments. Jesus didn’t demand Zacchaeus clean his house or resign his job first. He honored the tax collector’s immediate “yes.” Faith often looks foolish: scrambling upward, defying logic, risking embarrassment. But sycamore moments lead to salvation moments. [21:40]

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’” (Luke 19:5, ESV)

Reflection: What practical step—awkward or bold—could you take today to draw nearer to Christ?

Day 3: Hem-Touching Faith in the Middle of Mess

The woman with the issue of blood didn’t wait for perfect circumstances to reach for Jesus. Twelve years of shame, poverty, and isolation didn’t stop her from pressing through the crowd. Her healing came not when her life was tidy, but when her desperation met Christ’s divinity in the chaos. Faith isn’t a reward for having it all together—it’s the audacity to touch holiness while still bleeding. [27:55]

“And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’” (Mark 5:34, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you tempted to wait for “cleaner” circumstances before trusting God? How can you reach for Him in the mess today?

Day 4: The Thief’s Deadline and the Gift of “Now”

The dying thief on the cross had no time for committees, baptisms, or good deeds. His salvation hinged on one present-tense plea: “Remember me.” Jesus’ response—“Today”—reveals grace’s immediacy. Procrastination assumes tomorrow’s availability, but redemption blooms in the soil of urgent surrender. No soul is too far gone, no moment too late. Paradise begins when we stop bargaining with eternity and simply say, “Now.” [33:48]

“And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:42-43, ESV)

Reflection: What spiritual decision have you labeled “non-urgent”? How does Christ’s “today” challenge that assumption?

Day 5: Following the Glimmers to the Mother Lode

Mel Fisher’s crew chased gold flecks in the sand until they found the mother lode—the source of all treasure. Similarly, God leaves “handfuls of purpose” (Ruth 2:16) in our daily lives: answered prayers, Scripture whispers, divine appointments. These glimmers aren’t random—they’re trail markers to His abundance. Persistent faith follows the breadcrumbs of grace, trusting the fragments point to the whole. The miracle isn’t in the sparkle, but in the Source. [38:12]

“And let fall also some handfuls on purpose for her; leave them that she may glean, and rebuke her not.” (Ruth 2:16, KJV)

Reflection: What “glimmers” of God’s faithfulness have you recently overlooked? How can they guide you to deeper trust today?

Sermon Summary

“Today is the day” stands up as the claim, and God is shown as the God of today. A sunken treasure and a dockside sign preach it: for sixteen years, Mel Fisher sent crews out under one line, “Today is the day,” until the mother lode was found. That picture trains the heart to live in God’s now. Psalm 118 is heard this way: “Today is the day that the Lord has made,” so the right response is rejoicing, not postponing. Delay is unmasked as the enemy’s favorite weapon. “Tomorrow” sounds pious and feels safe, but Hebrews warns that “today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” “Later” calcifies the conscience. Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

“Now faith” meets God in the present moment. The greatest miracle does not land yesterday and will not wait for a someday. Paul says it plain: “Now is the day of salvation.” So the call is not “once you clean up,” but “right in the middle of your mess, now.” The disciples model the pace of grace: Jesus calls, and they “immediately” drop the nets. Joshua narrows it further. “Choose you today whom you will serve.” Neutrality is gone. The daily decision is not to make everything perfect, but to decide who rules the heart, and to decide it today.

The stories move. Zacchaeus trades dignity for a climb because “today” he must see the Lord, and Jesus answers, “Today I must stay at your house.” The woman with the issue of blood risks shame because “today” is her day to press through, and she is not only healed, but made whole. Bartimaeus refuses to be quiet because “today” is his day to see. At Bethesda, paralysis yields when “today” Jesus stands by the mat. On the cross, one thief wastes the moment; the other asks for mercy and hears, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” God moves suddenly, and suddenly is tethered to today.

The mother lode image closes the loop. God leaves “handfuls of purpose,” glimmers in the stream, to lead a life that keeps saying “today” to the Source. The church is called to get up every morning under that dockside sign. Say it. Live it. Choose it. If “today is the day,” then every day becomes today.

Key Takeaways

1. Today shuts the door on delay Delay is a quiet thief that hardens the heart while sounding responsible. “Later” feels safer than “yes,” but it always drifts the soul downstream. Obedience has a clock on it because God’s voice carries a now. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. [13:35]
2. Now faith meets God in the present Faith does its work in this moment, not after circumstances line up. The gospel word is not “someday” but “now is the day of salvation.” Real change happens where trust and God meet in the present tense. Freedom begins when someone chooses today. [08:45]
3. Choose who will rule your heart today Joshua removes the myth of neutrality and forces a decision. The crucial choice is not about fixing every circumstance, but about sovereignty in the inner life. When the heart yields today, the house gains a ruler today. That choice sets tomorrow’s course. [15:36]
4. Make haste like Zacchaeus, today Desire for Jesus outruns dignity and convenience. Zacchaeus climbs because “today” he must see the Lord, and Jesus answers with presence that same day. Urgency clears a path through crowds and shame. Where there is a today-choice, there is a today-visit. [21:51]
5. Follow the shimmer to the Source God drops “handfuls of purpose,” small glints that keep a life moving toward the mother lode. Keep showing up under the banner, “Today is the day,” and the trail will lead to the Source, not just the dust. Suddenly often finds those who have lived a long obedience in today. [38:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Keys trip and a medallion
[03:03] - Mel Fisher starts the hunt
[05:03] - The dock sign: Today is the day
[06:57] - Today is the day the Lord made
[07:36] - The enemy whispers tomorrow
[08:45] - Now is the day of salvation
[14:46] - Immediately following Jesus
[15:36] - Choose you today whom you serve
[21:51] - Zacchaeus, make haste today
[27:55] - The woman who made today her day
[30:32] - Bartimaeus decides today is the day
[32:11] - Bethesda and change in a moment
[33:48] - Today you will be with me
[38:12] - Handfuls of purpose to the Source

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Psalm 118:24 (ESV): "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV): "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
- Joshua 24:15 (ESV): "Choose this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Observation Questions

What repeated phrase in Psalm 118:24 and 2 Corinthians 6:2 emphasizes urgency?
In the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), what specific action did he take immediately when he heard Jesus was nearby? [21:51]
How does Hebrews 3:15 warn against delaying obedience?
What practical example from the sermon illustrates the danger of saying “later” instead of acting today? [13:35]

Interpretation Questions

Why might delaying obedience harden the heart, as mentioned in Hebrews 3:15? How does this connect to the idea that “delayed obedience is disobedience”?
How does Joshua 24:15 eliminate the option of neutrality in daily decisions? What does this imply about the nature of faith?
The sermon says, “Now faith meets God in the present moment.” How do stories like the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) demonstrate this principle? [27:55]
Why is “today” a recurring theme in both the Bible passages and the sermon’s examples (e.g., Bartimaeus, the thief on the cross)?

Application Questions

What is one area of your life where you’ve been saying “tomorrow” instead of “today”? What step could you take this week to act on it? [07:36]
The sermon says, “Choose who will rule your heart today.” What decision have you been avoiding that requires choosing God’s authority right now?
Zacchaeus prioritized seeing Jesus over his dignity. What inconvenience or risk might you need to embrace to pursue God today? [21:51]
The woman with the issue of blood pressed through shame to reach Jesus. Where do you need to “press through” fear or hesitation to experience His healing? [27:55]
How could you remind yourself daily (e.g., a habit, a visual cue) that “today is the day” to follow God’s promptings?
The thief on the cross received mercy when he chose today. Is there a relationship, habit, or attitude you need to surrender to Jesus today? [33:48]
What “handfuls of purpose” (small signs of God’s guidance) have you noticed recently? How will you follow them toward the “mother lode” of His promises? [38:12]

Sermon Clips

Today is your day. You didn't say your name was Bart, so now you're Bart. Do what Bart did. Make today today, and whatever you're struggling with, whatever you've been putting off with is gonna stop today because today is your day. Amen? Amen. Give the lord a hand clap of praise because it's happening. When Jesus showed up, the paralytic at Bethesda did not wait for another year. He's paralyzed. He's laying by the pool. Jesus shows up. He says, I have no other man. You must be him. And today, he got up and he rose and he walked. [00:31:43] (39 seconds) #TodayIsYourDay

Because when you get to tomorrow, then the devil says, tomorrow, do this, I'll give you this tomorrow, but tomorrow is always tomorrow and tomorrow never comes. God talks about today because today is where change happens. You gotta have your today. Today is where the greatest miracle in your life will not have happened yesterday. They cannot happen tomorrow. They happen when faith meets God in the present moment. Faith is about today. Faith is about now. Matter of fact, Mark 11 says, now faith. [00:07:43] (33 seconds) #FaithIsNow

Today. Today. Not not just because you went to next step, not just because you've choose to volunteer for a vacation bible school, you're gonna sign up for a life group and then you're get through that and see how your life begins to progress in that direction. You make a decision. When? Today. And Joshua's standing there in front of Canaan and getting ready to crossover and go into an idolatry that just pagan land. He said, tell you what you better do. You can't wait till you get over there and you can't wait till you're on your way over there. You better make your decision today. [00:16:00] (31 seconds) #DecideTodayNotLater

The change that have bound you for years can be broken in a moment when the power of god touches you. It can be changed because you make a decision that today is what? Today. Today is today. I mean, we end with this one. Jesus was on the cross One thief mocked Jesus The other thief told him to hush. He hasn't done anything wrong. He didn't rung with us. He won't like us. Leave him alone. This man's different. And while one thief was mocking, realizing today wasn't the day, and he got a lot more problems than talking and this guy on the cross with him, the other one realized that today is his day. [00:32:27] (60 seconds) #BreakChainsToday

As Lauren was speaking a while ago about life groups and stuff, about what men are going through, what women are going through. We're trapped by addiction. We're trapped by fear. We're trapped by guilt. We're trapped by shame. We're trapped by depression. We're trapped by regret, but the enemy says, maybe one day that you will be free, but Jesus says, today you will be free. He don't care if you walk around and come to church and says, one day, I got notes so that one day. I got me a new Bible so that one day, I'm joining a church so that one day, it's not about one day. It's about today, today's, today, and every day you're looking for today. Because you made a decision as today. You've already made a decision. [00:26:44] (46 seconds) #SalvationToday

He he he plants things in our lives to get us to keep looking and keep looking. Well, if God can do this, then God can do that. If he can help me through this, he can help me through that. But God wants to get your attention to get you to the mother lode, and I hate to use this analogy, that's the only way God told me. He has the mother lode. He has every purpose, every gift, every resource. Everything you have comes from him, and he has us and we go down that path trying to get to the place. And I'm telling you, we've been here what now? Twenty eight years? [00:38:18] (39 seconds) #CallOnGodNow

I release favor over you right now. I release blessings over you right now. I release healings over you right now. I release joy over you right now. I release peace over you right now. We're not living this way. We're not living under the enemy's lies. We're not doing it. We break his power today, and we release good blessings of God. We release the mother load of God. What is that? It is it is the it is the access to everything that we want, that we do need, we desire in our life. We receive it today in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. If you believe it, put your hands together and magnify the Lord with me. Amen? [00:43:43] (37 seconds) #ReceiveBlessingsNow

wasn't the fact he hollered. It wasn't the fact that people told him to shut up. It wasn't the fact that Jesus heard. It was the fact that before all these things begin to take place, Bart had to make a decision that today's today. Today's today. There's no more tomorrow. There's no more next week. There's no more next year. Today's the day. And I'm here to talk to my Barts, so just raise your hand today. Quit putting off what Jesus can do today. [00:31:20] (23 seconds) #NoMoreWaiting

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does today is the day mean?

Why is delayed obedience equivalent to disobedience?

How does faith operate in the present?

Today's The Day

Devotional

Day 1: Clinging to "Today" in the Treasure Hunt of Faith

Day 2: Sycamore Trees and Sudden Surrender

Day 3: Hem-Touching Faith in the Middle of Mess

Day 4: The Thief’s Deadline and the Gift of “Now”

Day 5: Following the Glimmers to the Mother Lode

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Today's The Day

Share