And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said; be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
( Acts 23: 11 )
When we think of persecution, most people think of someone speaking evil of them or false accusations. Most of us don't have to face the things the Apostle Paul went through. His life was in danger, but the Lord still had important work for Paul to do. He was to witness in the city of Rome itself. The Lord stood by Paul and said to him, "be of good cheer!" Can you imagine the joy the Apostle must have felt, when the Lord instructed him to have joy, in the midst of danger?
There was no human oppostion that could stop the work God had planned for Paul to do, as a great Apostle. Even though His life was threatened,
the Apostle could be of good cheer by trusting in God and in the words of the Lord.
Paul knew that he would speak of God's grace to others. Those who are called by God will be equipped by God. We all have a testimony of God's saving grace, not just for sharing with fellow Christians; but for a lost and dying world in need of a Savior. We have been given power to witness and be able ministers for the Lord. "Be of Good cheer" was a confirmation to the Apostle that all was not lost. Paul had been found by Christ, who would keep him safe, through the power of the cross.
Our Lord still speaks words of hope to us today. Everything we encounter has already gone through God. He knows all things will work together for our good and His glory. Trials work patience, experience, and hope in our lives. Leaning on Jesus makes a difference in this world.
When we resist the devil, put on the whole armor of God, pray, and
simply put our soul in God's control; we have the blessed assurance
that our Lord will take care of us. "No weapon or scheme formed against
us shall prosper." We are even told in this same verse of Scripture..... "every
tongue which rises against us in judgment, thou shall condemn." "This is
the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me,"sayeth
the Lord." {Isaiah 54: 17} It is good to know if we are on God's side, obeying
His will; those who oppose us, have already been judged by God in heaven.
God still speaks to us today through His Word and Spirit and tells us
to "be of good cheer." He has overcome the world and given us the
power to be victorious in Him. God will honor His Word through our
testimony. Our testimony is our lifestyle and living witness for the Lord,
every day of our lives, as we tell of His love and saving grace.
God's word will not return void, but will accomplish what He
intends, in His way and time. What Satan means for harm, God will
take and turn trials into testimonies, in His way and perfect timing.
God will make trials a blessing if we look to Him, fully relying on His
power and strength to carry us through.
Be of good cheer today, God is with you and will give an abundance
of joy as you trust in Him. In His presence, one can find fullness of joy
and pleasures forevermore. We can dwell in the secret place of the Most
High God, under the shadow of the Almighty, and claim His joy every day
of our lives. His joy is not dependant on circumstances around us, but on
who lives within our hearts. The joy of the Lord is our strength all through life.
Prayer changes things. When you whisper the holy name of "Jesus,"
I believe angels stand at attention as the Lord listens to His child calling
His name. Happiness is to know the Saviour, living a life within His favor!
Let His Spirit dwell richly in you and know that "everything will be alright in Christ." God's love will never fail or falter. The way of the cross still leads home!
Thank God we are saved and made free by our Blessed Lord!
Blessings in Christ,
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