Cindy Powell

“Fear not little flock for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” – Luke 12:32 ESV

These are the words I immediately heard yesterday when I asked Jesus what He was saying. There is so much comfort in this one short sentence.

First, “fear not…”  Jesus said that a lot. Probably because He knows how prone we are to fear! At different points in our lives we all experience feelings of fear. But in the midst of a national emergency, such as the one we are currently facing, the fear factor amps up considerably. All the more reason to pay attention to the words of Jesus because He never asks us to do anything He will not personally empower us to do. I always look at “fear not” as more of a promise than a command. We have the grace to lay aside fear because He is always near—loving the fear right out of us.

Second, “it is your Father…”  Read that again:  YOUR Father.  Jesus’ Father is YOUR Father.  He is OUR Father. The Father Jesus leaned into; the Father Jesus loved; the Father Jesus revealed …is YOUR Father.  That fact all by itself makes my heart happy.

Third, it’s his “good pleasure to give…” He loves to give! He loves to give us good gifts. It makes Him HAPPY to give us gifts. If we know how to give good gifts to our children, how much MORE will our heavenly Father give us what is good?

Finally, it is his good pleasure “to give you THE KINGDOM.” Yes, He GIVES us the Kingdom—a Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!  HIS government and its peace will never end.  The reign of His Kingdom cannot be shaken and is never ruled by circumstances on earth. Our Father has given us FULL access to the reality of HIS Kingdom here and now. Since He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?

His heart is for you, beloved. When we lean into the heart of a good Father, we can say with confidence: I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals (or a virus, or the economy) do to me? (see Psalm 56:11).

Abba, thank You for the present-tense reality of Your Kingdom. Help us to see these “momentary light afflictions” in the light of the eternal truths that put things into their proper perspective. Lord, You are compassionately mindful of our weakness and never shame us when we are fearful, yet you long to be gracious to us and are continually calling us higher and deeper where we can lay hold of the abundance it You have so freely given. Truly it IS Your good pleasure to give us the Kingdom! -Amen

I hear Him say: Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you!