~ “Be of Good
Cheer” ~
Smiling is the exclusive prerogative of man—flowers,
bird, animals cannot smile. (Dogs smile by wagging their tales!) But have you
ever had someone confront you with a statement like, “Smile!” I have—at times I
feel like striking back with some stinging one-liner. However, if it is someone
who is close to me and I know they have my best interests in mind it is another
story—I’m quite likely to cheer up if for no other reason than I know they
genuinely care about me. The Word of God gives us plenty of reasons to be
cheerful. Here are some of the basic reasons.
His Presence ~ In the New Testament the physical presence of
Christ was reason to be cheerful. “But immediately
Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be
afraid’” (Matthew 14:27). When we
consider that we have God living within us how can we be anything but joyful?
“Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27b).
His Forgiveness ~ If you are a
Christian your sins are forgiven! Be of good cheer because you have
received a pardon. “When Jesus saw their faith… ‘Son, be of good cheer; your
sins are forgiven you’” (Matthew 9:2b, also Mark 2:5).
His Hope (short-term) ~
We can, and should, have good cheer while we are experiencing the
trials, tribulations, and rough events of this life. “I
exhort you to be of good cheer: for
there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship… be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it
shall be even as it was told me… Then they
were all of good cheer” (Acts 27:22, 25, 36).
His Hope (long-term) ~ “Then they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you’”
(Mark 10:49). What the early
church and the puritans termed the “blessed hope” is translated in our current
vernacular as an “absolute certainty” of eternal life and the return of Christ
to take us to be with Him forever. It will be as the Word of God says (Acts
27:25).
His Peace ~ We know that Christ overcame
the world. “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 16:33), so we can have peace.
What joy that should bring!
“Be anxious for nothing, but
in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians
4:6-7).
His Witness ~ If you know Christ as your personal Savior
you are His witness. “But the following night the Lord stood by him and
said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in
Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness
at Rome’” (Acts 23:11). Because
of the genuine deep joy which we as Christians possess we should consistently be
a cheerful witness for Him (Acts 23:11).
SUMMARY ~
You can be cheerful because of Him and His work on your behalf. If you
are a Christian you have the power
of His Spirit living within you. “Those who think
they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral
muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust
God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them — living and breathing
God!” (Romans 8:5, The Message).
“And do not be drunk with wine [controlled
by wine]… but be filled with the Spirit [controlled by the Spirit], speaking to
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
