Dear Brothers,

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). It’s not hard to understand why the Spirit had Luke record this for us.

Yes, “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language” will one day be “standing before the throne  and in front of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9). But at almost every given moment in history, the vast majority of the world has been hostile to the message we hold dear.  We are “strangers in the world” (1 Peter 1:1) – by comparison, a “little flock” indeed. And the forces of Satan’s kingdom seem so often far more devoted and successful in pulling us down than we are in advancing our Father’s cause. Fear seems reasonable.

But it’s not. Freely, in his Son, the Father has given us “the kingdom.” In Jesus, “All things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:21) as our Father bends all things to serve the saving purpose of his kingdom.

Remembering that fixes our hearts on our real treasure. It calms our fears, turns our eyes from our discouragements, and renews us for fully dressed, eager kingdom service. It whets our appetite for that eternal day when the kingdom’s glory becomes visible, and our Master dresses himself to serve us!

Seeing such kingdom beauty gives purpose to these encouragements to spiritual and professional growth.

In Him,

Rich