Be of Good Cheer

During my quiet time this morning, I was again tremendously encouraged from the Gospel of Mark:

“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.”
Mark 6:50 (NKJV)

In this time which we are living in, we see fear everywhere. I see people not wanting to talk to each other, who basically can’t get out of the shop fast enough or get into their motor car quick enough - They don’t want to meet with anybody and they are gripped with a spirit of fear. Now of course the opposite of fear is faith:

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 NKJV).

Jesus stepped up and into the boat and said to the disciples, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” - They were in the middle of the lake. It looked like they were going to drown and then all of a sudden, they saw an apparition, a ghost and they were petrified but Jesus reassured them. I want to say to you that most of the things that we fear are not even real. You know the devil is the absolute master of deception, he is a thief and he is a liar.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 (NKJV)

Today and for this week we really need to focus on the Son of God, the One who says: “I will never leave you and I will never forsake you.” Remember if Christ is for us, there is no man that will ever stand against us. It doesn’t matter what mountain we are climbing at the moment, whether it be physical illness, unemployment or financial distress - keep your eyes on the Lord. He says "Be of good cheer! It is I do not be afraid" the storm will pass but Jesus will be with us forever. Strengthen yourself today in your inner man and you will see that your circumstances will change. What you perceive yourself to be, you will become. Remember in the Book of Numbers the spies said:

“There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:33 (NKJV)

We need to understand that when Jesus Christ is in our corner, we have got nothing to be afraid of. Don’t allow the devil to kill you with his lies, he cannot do anything to you without God’s permission. God, through His Son Jesus Christ, says to you today: “Be of good cheer.”

Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day.
Angus and Jill Buchan