December 4, 2017 GOOD MEDICINE
Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always,”
We live in a serious-minded, somber world. In the natural, there are ample reasons to be somber in spirit; there are more troubles and problems in the world than we could ever count. The admonition to have a cheerful heart and to ‘rejoice always’ may sound like a genuine pipe-dream to many. However, when one is transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, as is the case for believers, as Colossians 1:13 tells us, he has every reason to experience joy and every reason to have a cheerful heart. Christ in us is enables us to live in a fallen, broken and lost world with a view of the bigger picture that is unfolding. As believers, we can have joy and peace because we know that God’s plans and purposes will come to pass, even though it may look dark at the present and it may seem that evil has the upper hand in the current circumstances. Because we have the Spirit of God in us and because we have been made new, we can see through the crisis or the difficulties, knowing that God has allowed it for a purpose that is designed for our good and the furtherance of His kingdom. A cheerful heart? Really? Yes-because of all that God has done, and because of what He is doing now, and because of all He is going to do, we can live this life with a cheerful heart. Don’t misunderstand-we will experience times of grief and there are times we need the comfort that God gives-but even in the most difficult times, we can deep within know that God is able and that He will see us through the trial. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. A cheerful heart is tied to faith and hope in God-not the world and not circumstances. Without faith and hope in God, we are in darkness and have every reason to be in despair and discouragement. If we truly believe what God has said in His word, we cannot help but be cheerful. Believers must be aware of the fact that they have a roll of working with God as He works in us. In other words, the blessings and benefits of knowing God, such as having a cheerful heart, do not happen automatically. As believers, we are called to exercise the faith that God has put in us, and we are called to seek Him first, and called to study the word of God that we might know Him better and learn of our new identity in Him. There is no place or time for being apathetic and no time to coast when it comes to our spiritual health. To walk in the Spirit is a scriptural command; walking in the Spirit is something we choose to do. On a very practical note, as believers, we need the healing power of good clean laughter and the benefits of a cheerful heart-it is actually beneficial to physical health-really! We need to guard carefully what we let into our minds and what we set our eyes on, and what we choose to listen to. Many need to ‘lighten up’ a bit in life and acknowledge that God is in control and His plan is being worked out. Life brings with it some peaks and some valleys, but life goes on, but nothing can separate us from His love. Joy is one of the hallmarks of the Christian faith. We live in a dark world, but we are now a part of the kingdom of God, we are light, and for us, old things have passed away and new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17. If our trust and our faith is in the God who created us and who has called us to Himself, we have every reason to be of good cheer!
Proverbs 4:20-22: “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to My words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them with your whole heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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