Thursday, November 30, 2006

Luke 12:32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

PLEASED

In Martin Luther's day, the church said something different than what Jesus says here.

The Roman Catholic Church was the only church back then. And it said, "God is very angry with you because of your sins. And the only way to make him happy is to pay."

The people were given two options. They could pay with good deeds, or they could pay with money given to the church rulers. If they paid with money, then they would get a slip of paper that declared how many sins they had paid for.

The church in Luther's day was so corrupt that it was saying, "Be afraid, little flock, for the Father is ANGRY with you, but he won't be if you give us some money."

At that time the Bible didn't exist in the common language of the people. So, if you didn't know Hebrew, Greek or Latin, you couldn't read the Bible for yourself, and you had to take the church's word for it.

Martin Luther became a monk because he was afraid of God. But when Martin finally got to read the Bible for himself, he was shown the rest of the story. Yes, the Father is angry over sin and will punish the sinner. But, the Father has sent Jesus to endure the punishment in the sinner's place! This was what the corrupt church was hiding from the people! Because of what Jesus did, the Father is pleased!

As a model for all true preachers of God's message, Jesus Had declared this Good News boldly in His ministry. He said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24).

Do not be afraid little flock, Your Father has been pleased by the Son.