Cheer Up

~ Three Times Jesus Told His disciples, “Be of good cheer.”  ~

The Christian can be of good spirits regardless of their past, their current realities, as well as with regard to their ultimate future.

Cheer Up Regarding Your Past  ~  “Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.  Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you’” (Matthew 9:1-2). 

Cheer Up Regarding Your Present  ~  “Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and Jesus was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, ‘Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid.’  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled” (Mark 6:47-51, c.f. Matthew 14:25-27). 

Cheer Up Regarding Your Future   ~  “Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe?  Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone.  And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’” (John 16:31-33). 

Conclusion  ~  If you are a Christian you should be cheerful because your sins are gone forever!  If you are going through a storm you can be cheerful because you know Who it is that controls all your circumstances!  As you recognize increasingly dark clouds on the horizon you can rejoice in your knowledge of the final outcome and your eternal home!  God gives the Christian reason to be cheerful in relation to their past, their present, and their future! 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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