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XII.
Christian Growth and Experience
Chapter 129
:
Cheerfulness
1. BEFORE leaving His
disciples, what did Jesus say to them?
"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.
2. What were some of
the cheering words He said to them?
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye
believe in God, believe also in Me. In My
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may
be also." John 14:1-3.
3. In what spirit
should we serve the Lord?
"Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before His presence with singing."
Ps. 100:2.
4. What is sown for the
upright in heart?
"Light is sown for the righteous, and
gladness for the upright in heart." Ps.
97:11.
5. What effect has a
merry heart?
"A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the
bones." Prov. 17:22.
NOTE.-From this we may learn the influence
which the mind has over the body.
Cheerfulness is conducive to life and
health; sorrow, care, anxiety, and worry
tend to disease and death.
6. What effect do
helpful, cheerful words have upon the heart?
"Heaviness in the heart of' man
maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it
glad." Prov. 12:25.
7. By what temporal
blessings does God fill men's hearts with
gladness?
"Nevertheless He left not Himself without
witness, in that He did good, and gave us
rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons,
filling our hearts with food and
gladness." Acts 14:17.
8. Why and for what may
every child, of God rejoice?
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He
hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He hath covered me with the robe of
righteousness." Isa. 61:10.
9. Against what are
Christians warned?
"Neither murmur ye, as some of
them also murmured, and were destroyed of
the destroyer." 1 Cor. 10:10.
NOTES.-"There are those who take to gloom as
a bat to darkness or as a vulture to
carrion. They would rather nurse a misery
than cherish a joy. They always find the
dark side of everything, if there is a dark
side to be found. They appear to be
conscientious grumblers, as if it were their
duty to extract some essence of misery from
every circumstance. . . . On the other hand,
there are rare spirits who always take
cheerful views of life. They look at the
bright side. They find some joy and beauty
everywhere. . . . In the most faulty picture
they see some bit of beauty which charms
them. In the most disagreeable person they
discover some kindly trait or some bud of
promise. In the most disheartening
circumstances they find something for which
to be thankful, some gleam of cheer breaking
through the thick gloom. . . . When a ray of
sunlight streamed through a crack in the
shutter and made a bright patch on the floor
in the darkened room, the little dog rose
from his dark corner and went and lay down
in the one sunny spot; and these people live
in the same philosophical way. If there is
one beam of cheer or hope anywhere in their
lot, they will find it. . . . We have no
right to project the gloom of our discontent
over any other life. Our ministry is to be
ever toward joy. There is nothing so
depressing in its effects upon others as
morbidness. . . . Discontent helps nothing.
. . . One never feels better for
complaining."- "Week-Day Religion," by J.
R. Miller, D. D., pages 236-241.
"How many people," says Jeremy Taylor, "are
busy in the world gathering together a
handful of thorns to sit upon."
"As a little girl was eating, the sun dashed
upon her spoon, and she cried, 'O mama, I
have swallowed a spoonful of sunshine!'
Would God that we all might indulge in the
same beverage!"-
Talmage's "One
Thousand Gems," page 56.
10. Even when
persecuted, what are we told to do, and why?
"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate
you, and when they shall separate you from their
company, and shall reproach you, and cast out
your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for,
behold, your reward is great in heaven."
Luke 6:22,23.
11. When beaten by the
Jewish rulers for preaching Christ, what did the
apostles do?
"And they departed from the presence
of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."
Acts 5:41.
12. After receiving
"many stripes," with their feet made fast in the
stocks, what did Paul and Silas do while in
prison?
"And at midnight Paul and Silas
prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the
prisoners heard them." Acts 16:25.
13. What assurance is
given that the child of God may bravely endure
every trial and hardship of life?
"And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to His
purpose." Rom. 8:28.
14. How constant should
our rejoicing be?
"Rejoice in the Lord alway:
and again I say, Rejoice." Phil. 4:4.
NOTE.-"Good cheer is the hall-mark of a
brave and healthy soul. To give way to
gloomy thoughts, otherwise the 'blues,' is a
sign of weakness. This isn't asserting that
no one but weaklings is attacked by the
blues; but it is one thing to be attacked
and another to rout the disturber. And that
is what the brave soul does. There may be a
very real and tangible reason why the heart
faints and halts, for life is serious, and
the world full of unexpected trials; but to
sit and brood over a trouble only makes it
look larger and larger until it finally
obscures the horizon line, and darkness
descends upon the soul. Wherefore, the thing
to do is to cast aside all thoughts of worry
for a moment,-just say to yourself, It is
only for a moment,- and when you return to
it again you will be surprised to find it
has lessened in size and importance."-
The New
World.
WHEN
things don't go to suit you,
And the world seems upside down,
Don't waste your time in fretting,
But drive away that frown;
Since life is oft perplexing,
'Tis much the wisest plan
To bear all trials bravely,
And smile whene'er you can. |
