“Cup of Good Cheer”

During this time of year we are told to take a “cup of good cheer.” This is a amazing allusion to the Cup we drink at Communion. I have already written how celebrating the Lord’s Supper should be a exciting not a somber affair, and as we embrace this season, I think it behooves us to think of the Lord’s Cup as the Cup of Good cheer during this time of year. 

We need cheerfulness that flows from Christ. He is not like the grimacing icons or medieval to renaissance paintings, no, Jesus has a face of unconditional love. He is a God of Love (1 John 4:18) and Truth (John 1:17). Christ inspires a cheerfulness inside us who will inherit eternal life through faith and trust in Him alone. Inspired I have chosen to look at some very different ways of being cheerful during this Christmastime and hopefully in the New Year. 

The most obvious way to spread cheer and walk in its threshold is to give alms, “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful give.” (2 Corinthians 9:7). I must confess being s cheerful giver this year had been arduous. Being homeless makes you want to withhold because it can mean you will not be able to pay for your next meal. But giving may not always be money, you can give of your time, which I do with cheer in my own  way by posting in this blog. I am so glad to offer what I can to you dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I may not have silver of gold, “but what I do have take, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” (Acts 3:6). 

When one thinks of apologetics, defending the faith, the word cheer probably is not the one that comes first to mind. However, that is exactly the word the apostle Paul used, “When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,” (Acts 24:10). To be a Fidei Defensor, defender of the faith, we often think of being a scholar and theologian with a sensible demeanor, but Paul flips this on the head and says make cheerful defense, to be full of that passionate love of God our Savior Jesus Christ and to speak the Gospel and in defense of it with cheer is totally revolutionary way of approaching apologetics. In fact, Paul’s cheer and zeal for the Gospel of Christ during his defense almost swayed Herod, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In this short time you have almost proven to me that I should become a Christian!” (Acts 26:28). Paul was so passionate and cheerful about making his case for Christ it almost swayed Agrippa, and that is how we should be when sharing the Gospel, full of cheer and ardor, not somberness. And lest you think you need a PHD in theology and missionology to preach, take the words of Paul the Apostle and heed them, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power,” (1 Corinthians 1:17), and, “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified, And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God“ (1 Corinthians 2:2-3). 

Cheerfulness and love must be employed in all we do, “or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:7-9). When we show mercy we are to do so with a cheery attitude, not begrudgingly or with hidden resentment.  Or else isn’t mercy. 

And what if our cheer wains? What are we to do? Well it turns out the caroling at Christmas is exactly what is prescribed, “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray, Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.” (James 5:13). The apostle tells us if we are in need of cheer  should have praises sung by those who are merry. And if you are full of cheer sing merrily! Go out caroling and spreading cheer to those dear and near! Let the joy of the Lord be sung from you lips to brothers and sisters in Christ whose spirits may be low. 

So take a cup of cheer and spread it at this time of year! Better spread it all the year around! Remember to spread cheer with alms, with your time, in defending the Gospel, and by singing praises! Let the cheer be sheer this year and the next! Share with the saints the merriment. Take up the Cup of Good Cheer and share it with those who are near. Amen.