TUESDAY January 9, 2024
Be of Good Cheer
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
At this particular time, Paul was probably greatly depressed and heartbroken. He may have been lying down, thinking, What is going to happen to me next? Yet Paul still clung to the future hope he had in Jesus Christ.
While Paul was alone in the barracks with two soldiers guarding him day and night, the Lord could see that Paul needed encouragement. He met that human need. What was the first thing He said to him? It was, “Be of good cheer, Paul.” Then God let His faithful servant know that He still had a plan and purpose for His life.
God promised Paul that he was not going to be killed. He reassured him that no matter what happened in the future, he was not to worry. God was with him. He was going to lead and guide Paul to show him that He was still in control. What was God’s will for Paul? He would eventually go to Rome, before Nero, to be a witness for Him there.
When we are down and depressed, God will come to our side to speak words of comfort. In times of deep depression, personalize this verse. Place your name in Acts 23:11, “Be of good cheer, [Janet].” Know this: If you are living and breathing, God has not finished with you yet. He has more work for you to do!
Think about it. The Lord, knowing the future and the hard times His disciples would face, encouraged them. Within His encouragement, He used the same phrase that Paul was given: “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).
Be of good cheer! Christ has overcome the world! How has His words encouraged you personally?
Take one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
~Billy Graham~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
