Negatives, Be Gone!

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

In our day, it seems we are surrounded on every side by negatives. Whether it's economics, educational systems, politics, social problems or the ill treatment of insects, it seems we can't turn on our television sets or computers without being bombarded with negatives. If we aren't careful, we can find ourselves even in church situations where there is little encouragement and too much negative nit-picking. Every church has some of that, but some have it in great degrees. I'm so grateful for the church I attend where I feel flooded with encouragement both in a congregational as well as one on one contacts.

As we read in the Gospels, it isn't too far into them until we see Jesus being attacked by political and religious leaders and there's nothing positive about those attacks. Jesus always handled those attacks with a grace where He always took the high ground in those confrontations. What we often forget was that standing nearby unless we are told differently, were Jesus' disciples, taking in the whole scenario. Even though there were hundreds who came to love and in some cases follow Jesus, there were also those who felt threatened by Jesus and His message. Those leaders felt threatened at the idea that many felt Jesus was the Messiah, that was a thought they couldn't even tolerated. We forget the disciples in all of this. They were just common guys, laymen for the most part, not as strong in the Lord as some day they would be. As much as they loved Jesus, the negative attention toward Jesus at times must of outweighed all of positive response of so many. That's the way we human beings are. Negatives tend to soak into our minds as if they are contagious.

What are some things to help us with the negatives?

First, remember God is in control. There isn't a person walking the face of this earth He doesn't know about. Nothing or no one has slipped through His very capable fingers. Despite what we read, see or hear, nothing will never be new to Him. We can be sure He has His eye on everything and everyone. God has control over everything that touches us.

Second, we must do all we can to be people who are positive and who keep positive attitudes. This isn't an easy thing to do considering our surroundings. We have to be IN this world, but we don't have to be OF this world. I don't think the fresh, new Christians we find in the early days of the fledgling church would be able to recognize most modern-day Christians as even being born again people. Through the years of world changes and compromise, many of today's Christians look more like the world than they should.

Third, it would be of great help if we would be careful to surround ourselves with friends who are positive people. Everyone has their down days, but there are many for whom every day is a down day for one reason or another. With closer friends, more in depth problems will be shared that are anything but positive. Our dearest friends are those with broad shoulders we can cry on and the Lord provides those dear ones for us as extra support. Even with them, however, we have to be careful to not fall into habits of non-constructive conversation on a frequent basis.

Lastly, we must always remember that we are a part of a very positive Gospel. Jesus didn't die for you and me to live at low ebb every day of our lives. He died that we might have life in abundance with the hope of Heaven ahead of us. There is nothing negative about those things. If we don't stay snuggled up to Him through prayer and taking in His Word, we will lapse into attitudes that are unpleasing to Him.

Jesus spoke of good cheer in three of the four Gospels. Cheer is one of the most positive things I can think of. In Matthew 9:2, a man with palsy was brought to Jesus to be healed. He said:
                                               "...Son, be of good cheer;
                                                thy sins be forgiven thee."

Jesus after several minutes healed the man, but it's important to see that Jesus took care of the most important things first. He encouraged the man to be of good cheer, but also realized the man wouldn't know true cheer without the forgiveness of sin. By the way, the same is true of us. An unsaved person isn't going to know the true cheer that comes from God so don't expect it. For we Christians the cheer of God is available to us all the time if we want to take advantage of it.

Jesus made a similar statement while walking on stormy water toward some very scared disciples. In Mark 6:50, Jesus said:
                                             "...Be of good cheer it is I;
                                                        be not afraid."

Negatives such as the storms of life can rob us of the cheer Jesus gives even when we are most nervous or afraid regarding some of our circumstances of life. He gave a command to those scared disciples to not only be of good cheer, but to realize His presence with them.

Lastly, Jesus speaks of cheer where you and I really are today with regard to the negatives of the world and our dealing with them. He said in John 16:33:
                                        "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."

Whether ill, in times of fear or in just looking around at world circumstances, Jesus shows us He is in control. In it all, you and I are to be people not just of cheer, but of GOOD cheer. May it be so that we not only accept His encouragement, but that we share it with folks we come in contact with. Some people may be ill, scared in their life circumstances or looking hopelessly at the world. We have the privilege to be “Jesus with skin on” spreading His positive message of hope good cheer.

Father, thank You for all the positives you pour into my life. Just the cheer, hope and peace You provide is worth more to me than I can say. Thank You is all I can offer. In Jesus' precious name....Amen