Pleasant Stone Devotional Meditation: August 19

“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

When we have been through the suffering of any “trial” before the “sanhedrins” of our daily lives, we are ready to rest. We cry out to God in our weariness that surely this is enough for now.

But after “there arose a great cry” and after “there arose a great dissension” and after Paul had been “taken by force,” he was not allowed to rest. “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.” There was no let up. His next call came “… the night following …”
But, when it came, “… the Lord stood by him …” We have all known the suffering of fatigue and nervous exhaustion. Many go down under it. Many of us bring it on ourselves by trying to do God’s work. But at the time, when we are asked by God to “bear witness also at Rome” on “… the night following,” Jesus is always right beside us. Standing beside us. When He calls, He supplies the means to answer His call. If we are looking too intently at our work for Him. We can easily miss His Presence beside us. And this brings great suffering. It is all much too hard without Jesus. But He’s there. Our part is always to expect Him and to look for Him. Knowing that before He gives the next order, He always says “Be of good cheer.” When we hear this, the suffering is all right. We welcome it. Because Jesus is standing by everything He asks us to do.

“… he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”