Friday, December 1, 2006
Luke 12:32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
KINGDOM
The word "pleased", in the context of this verse, refers to the giving of the kingdom. God the Father was happy to give us the keys to His house. It was not something He was forced to do, but something that He was delighted to do. Delighted because of what Jesus has done for us.
Now the word "kingdom" can be confusing in our minds. But Jesus shows us what it means: "Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is within you'" (Luke 17:20-21).
Jesus was not saying there would never be a visible kingdom of God. There will be a visible kingdom of God after the Judgment Day. But that kingdom we need not concern ourselves with just yet, for the invisible rule of God has already begun. It is within us today through faith in God's Son. You cannot say here it is or there it is because you cannot see into the heart. But we can show that we belong to this kingdom through the things we say and do.
In the Lord's Prayer we pray, "Thy kingdom come". In other words, "God, may Your ruling come to our hearts." Martin Luther explained it like this:
"Thy kingdom come . . . What does this mean? . . . God's kingdom certainly comes by itself even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us . . . How does God's kingdom come? . . . God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we belief his holy word and lead a godly life now on earth and forever in heaven" (Luther's Catechism, Kuske).
Do not be afraid, little flock, the kingdom has been given to you.
