“BE OF GOOD CHEER”

St John 16:33

Why? Why me?  Why my family?  What is the meaning of this suffering? These are familiar questions which are asked by Christians and non-Christians alike. No one is immune to suffering and adversity. “Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7, KJV). There are the pressures of want, need, sorrow, persecution, unpopularity, and loneliness. Some suffer for what they have done; others suffer because of what people do to them. Many suffer because they are victims of circumstances  which they cannot control. 

I read from a daily devotion, by Carylon Nicholson:     “Give up the illusion that you  deserve  a problem-free  life.  Part  of  you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties.”  This  is a  false  hope!”  Link your hope not to problem  solving  in this life  but to the promise of an eternity of problem-free life in heaven. Instead of seeking perfection in this fallen world,  pour your energy into seeking “Me: the Perfect One.” 

I appreciate Dr. Billy Graham ministry, and  his writings will give encouragement throughout the ages.  From his “Christian Worker’s Handbook” he wrote:  “Christ did not evade the Cross to escape suffering. Hebrews 12:2 says he “endured the cross, despising the shame.” Why? “For the joy that was set before him.” He knew that the final word was not crucifixion (suffering); it was resurrection (victory). 

The late Dr. R.E Neighbor, when asked:  “How are you?” would often reply: “Happy on the way.”  Why shouldn’t God’s children be “Happy on the way?”  The religion that makes a man look sick certainly want cure the world.  Martin Luther said: “The devil is a chronic grumbler.” 

On more that one occasion Christ used the phrase, “Be of good cheer.”  In Matthew 9:1-2, Jesus returns from Capernaum, “And he entered into a boat and passed over, and came into his own city.  And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed;  and Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” 

That my friends is enough to cheer the heart of any man, just to know that his sins are forgiven.  Mark 2: 1-12 tells us this man was lowered down through the roof of a house and the Lord healed him and forgave him.  When Jesus saw their faith - - “Whose faith?”  The faith of the four men who bore the stretcher. It was not the faith of the four men that saved the sick of the palsy, NO - Jesus saw their faith – faith to bring the man to Him.  O God, give us more stretcher bearers,  men and women with that kind of faith to go out and bring in the unsaved so they can hear the gospel;  that we may recall the day Jesus said to us, “Son be of Good cheer,  thy sins be forgiven thee.”  Lord Jesus, move us out of “Our Comfort Zone.”

In   “HIS”   Service,

            Roy