Preschool
The Lord is my rock. Psalm 18:2
Be of Good Cheer
Memory Verses
Primary
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust. Psalm 18:2
Junior
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2
Background Scripture: Acts 27
Lesson Scripture: Acts 27:1, 9–11, 13–14, 21–25, 33–36, 42–44
Introduction
The Christian must have the right mindset in our uncertain and turbulent time. He must have right thinking to maintain right living. The world around us is sinking under the weight of sin and fear, and Satan wants to saddle the Christian with anxiety. Just as a father must tell his children at times to be happy and content, so our heavenly Father reminds us today to be cheerful even in uncertain times. Cheer is a direct result of a deep confidence in God. A life of cheer is anchored in the fact that Jesus has overcome the world, and we have a home awaiting us that is far better than this one. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Key Verse
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
Lesson Scripture
Acts 27:1 And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22 And now 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.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Studying the Lesson
The ship on which Paul sailed to Italy left on its final voyage with 276 people aboard. History shows that a substantial bonus was given to grain ships that were willing to undertake the risky winter voyage to insure a supply of food to Rome. This may be why Paul’s warning that the ship would face “hurt and much damage” was ignored. In any case the centurion took the ship’s owners advice over the divine revelation of Paul, and it proved to be a disastrous trip.
The storm they found themselves in lasted fourteen days and nights. There was no light from the stars or the sun. No human mind could have stayed courageous in these conditions. The passengers had given up all hope of surviving the storm alive and, in their despair, they even stopped eating. In this desperate situation, they finally became willing to listen to Paul. With quiet authority, he assured them that all of them would make it through alive. God is always working in ways we cannot see, and even when we are faced with situations where there seems to be no hope, God has a marvelous plan to bring us to an expected end.
Practical Truths for Today
When we began our Christian walk, most of us did so from a fear of being lost. As we are converted, this fear is replaced with a deep love for God and a new interest in life. Satan is trying to convince the world that the life of a Christian is dull and depressing, which is a lie. A life with Christ is an awakened life. No more is our mind stuck in an endless loop of our own feelings and desires, but we are free to experience life with a sparkling new perspective. The experiences the Lord orchestrates in our lives may come through the most unlikely and unexpected circumstances. Christian life is meant to be lived with enthusiasm, taking full advantage of the opportunities the Lord sends to us to live out our faith. Are you an adventurous Christian? Are you living up to the potential Christ has for you?
Jesus spoke of a time when men’s hearts would be failing them for fear (Luke 21:26). Too many Christians today have given in to fearful, negative feelings and fail to cope with the stresses of daily life. This negative thinking is detrimental. Can we effectively go about our Father’s business while consumed with negative thoughts? Can we live an overcoming Christian life when we have no confidence in our future? We Christians should reflect our Father’s glory by truly submitting our thoughts and will to Him. Spending time with God should cause our faces to shine (think of Moses when he had been with God). It is true that we will not always be bubbly and smiling—we are to weep with those who weep—but “the joy of the LORD is [our] strength” (Neh. 8:10).
Young ministers of the gospel have been brought into the kingdom for just such a time as this. Their enthusiasm and energy are a source of strength in the church. They must not entertain a hopeless perspective in dark times. The negative report of ten leaders caused a whole generation of Israelites to die in the wilderness. The church today depends on humble but confident leaders who boldly say as Caleb said to Moses, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Num. 13:30). Leaders must seek the proper perspective of God’s power over sin and His ability to keep us from the world. What God has done for our fathers, the martyrs, and the apostles He will do for us today. Are we limiting the miracles the Lord would do for us? We dare not be like the people of Galilee, of whom it was said that Jesus “did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt. 13:58).
We tend to seek security in accumulating wealth and expect to find happiness in the material goods money can buy. We fail to realize that possessions and wealth will only increase our anxiety. A wealthy man carries constant concern for his wealth. Jesus reminded us that life does not consist of the abundance of things we possess. Only by looking to Him will we find moderation in the physical and material things in our lives. Our fathers sang with meaning the song, “This World Is Not My Home.” 1
Many songs being written by Christians today speak of storms and battles. As Christian soldiers, are we focused so closely on the present that we have forgotten our goal? We need eternal vision, a renewal of the truth that everything around us will pass away. Our treasures should be invested in heaven “where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt. 6:20). In Paul’s day it was common practice to throw goods out of the ship when confronted with a storm. We, too, should lighten our load. Earthly treasures lose their importance in stormy times. A lighter financial burden will improve our ability to navigate troubled waters.
If our hearts are not clean before our Creator, we should tremble at meeting Him. This is a right fear of death. However, those who have lived in a daily appreciation of God’s grace and provision can be of good cheer in the face of death. Because Jesus has overcome death, it need not hold any power over us—we need not fear leaving this world behind. We may have difficulty living this truth when it is our time to die because we are inclined to cling to life, but by faith in Jesus we can overcome our fear of death. A tormenting spirit from Satan, the accuser, can cause us to wrongly fear death. Again, only Jesus can help us overcome our anxiety of death, and we can face the last enemy quietly and confidently. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20).
Paul’s Christian life is a proper pattern for us. His surrendered life was not always smooth, but he had a life of grace and growth. There is much we can learn from Paul about acceptance. He did not choose to go on this fateful voyage, but he did so, knowing that the Lord would be with him every moment. Can we accept the things that come our way, knowing that the Lord can use all the circumstances in our lives to His glory? Though things in our lives can change quickly, we trust God, knowing He will always be there. Though the enemy comes in like a flood, we can look up and reach out to our Savior. We need only cry out to Him and He answers, “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid” (Mark 6:50).
Questions
- Why is a negative attitude sinful?
- What are some practical ways to change an attitude?
- What is the root cause of a stormy Christian life?
- 1 Arranged by Albert E. Brumley (1905–1977)
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).