From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 5:04 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: February 6, 2005 Greetings

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  Luke 12:32

Jesus was speaking to His disciples here concerning their anxieties and worries about their physical needs.  This section (verses 22-34) tells them of God's providence and He starts out by telling them, "...do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on.  For life is more than food, and the body then clothing."  Luke 12:22-23

Jesus assures them that the Father knows of their need for these things.  He cautions them to not be distracted or double minded or focus on these things, but to, "Seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you."  Luke 12:31

Then comes verse 32, our opening verse, how very tender and precious for it tells of our Heavenly Father's love for His own.  The admonition is 'do not fear' or as the Amplified Bible says, 'do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear'.  We have looked at the 'fear nots' in Scripture in the past and know that it is a command; that as children of the Most High we are safe in the palm of His hand.  Therefore, it is not an option to be anxious.

As for the endearing term 'little flock' we see several verses in Scripture that identify God's children as sheep of His flock: "You lead Your people like a flock..."  Psalm 77:20

"But He led forth His own people like sheep,
 And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
 And He led them safely, so that they did not fear..."  Psalm 78:52-53

"Know that the Lord Himself is God;
 It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
 We are His people and the sheep of His pasture."  Psalm 100:3

Jesus speaking says,
"I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own."  John 10:14

Speaking of the Fatherhood of God who knows our needs, we see, "A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows,  Is God in His holy habitation."  Psalm 68:5

"But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father,
 We are the clay, and Thou our potter;
 And all of us are the work of Thy hand."  Isaiah 64:8

Jesus speaking says,
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"  Matthew 7:11

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father..'" Romans 8:15

Our verse tells us that it was our Father's 'good pleasure to give us the kingdom.'  And of this kingdom Scripture tells us:

"Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, 'The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.'"  Luke 17:20-21

"Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot even see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God." John 3:3  The Amplified Bible

"For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."  Romans 14:17

It was God's good pleasure to give us all things in Christ.  Read Chapter one of Ephesians and be blessed! "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him..."  Verses 3-4 And, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us..." Verse 7

With grateful hearts we say thank You Lord God!  All praise and glory belong to You, O Most High!  Amen