“Don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:32); “Let us be grateful, for we are receiving an unshakable Kingdom.” (Heb. 12:28)
Lord Jesus, thank you—and what an understatement that is. For you have cleansed, forgiven, and clothed in your righteousness; made us your bride and the objects of your affection. These grace-riches, alone, make us incalculably wealthy. But there is more.
We’ve been adopted into Abba’s family, sealed with the “Spirit of sonship,” and made heirs of God’s Kingdom. Jesus, how do we “wrap” our hearts around all of this? We spend so much energy being afraid of what’s going on in our world—worried about what’s to come. Yet you “straight up” say to us, “Do not be afraid. It has pleased, overjoyed, delighted our Father to give us the Kingdom.”
We’re not “merely” citizens of heaven; we’re co-heirs with you of the new heaven and new earth. We really don’t have to be afraid of dying or living. Fear and worry don’t deserve as much time and power as we give them. Help us with that, Lord.
And thank you for telling us about our Father’s happiness, and the joy he has in being generous with us. You know more about that than anyone, so we trust you. Keep freeing us from our unbelief about our Father, and everything else in the Gospel that seems just too good to be true, and too good to be ours.
We inwardly groan and eagerly await the fullness of the only “unshakable Kingdom.” It’s certainly coming, and we are certainly ready. So Very Amen.