Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 12:13-34 "FEAR NOT, IT IS THE FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM..." Luke 12:32"
Day 164 – Luke 12
Text: Luke 12:13-34
“FEAR NOT, IT IS THE FATHER’S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM…” Luke 12:32
What an awesome revelation! Jesus spoke of how God, in His good pleasure, planned to give His children the kingdom!
Many of us probably have not thought about what God has planned for us, as His children beloved! We sometimes think that it is very hard to obtain the Lord’s blessings. Nothing is further from the truth!
The problem with why we struggle with fear and anxieties is that we have not fully understood what it means to be promised God’s kingdom! If God has planned to give us “the kingdom” why would He not provide for our mundane, daily needs!
Obviously, we are struggling with the problem of ignorance as well as the problem of a lack of faith as well! Jesus sought to help His Disciples to dispel fear and anxiety by telling them about what God, their Father in Heaven had planned to give to them.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Once again, we come across this phrase, “the kingdom”. Let us review what Jesus had taught concerning “the kingdom”. Let us look at some of the aspects of the Kingdom of God, Jesus taught (among other things).
1. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
The message that Jesus proclaimed was “The Kingdom of God” (Luke 4:43). He spoke of how He was sent to proclaim the Kingdom of God. In Luke 12:32, Jesus said that God was going to give them “the kingdom”!
2. The Blessing of belonging to the Kingdom of God
In the pronouncement of The Beatitudes, Jesus spoke about how blessed the poor were, for theirs “is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). Jesus did not contradict Himself in anyway when He spoke about how God had planned to give His kingdom to His children.
3. Mysteries of the Kingdom
Jesus spoke about “the mysteries of the kingdom of God” on one occasion (Luke 8:10). He was of course referring to the deep truths found in God’s Word. Only those who belonged to the Kingdom would understand these mysteries of God’s Kingdom. The Disciples of the Lord Jesus belonged to that Kingdom, and thus the mysteries of God’s Word would be revealed to them, and they would understand the deep and hidden truths found in the Scriptures.
4. Power associated with the Kingdom
Jesus once sought to explain the significance of the power that He wielded as He cast out demons! The Kingdom of God was presented as one associated with great power. It was in eternal conflict with the kingdom of the devil. The power of Jesus was as “the finger of God” (Luke 11:20).
Let us consider some of these great truths and ponder them in the context of what Jesus said when He explained that God had given to His children the kingdom!
If we understand Jesus correctly, there would be no room in our hearts for anxiety and fear! There would not be the need to worry about how God would provide for us.
Our part is to seek the kingdom of God (Luke 12:31). Our search for the Kingdom of God must be with faith and understanding that God is more than willing to find His Kingdom.
“SELL WHAT YOU HAVE AND GIVE ALMS” Luke 12:33
Do we really understand what it means to be so greatly blessed? The Lord Jesus challenged His hearers to put into practice what they believed. Nothing more clearly expresses the reality of faith in God than when we are able to give!
When a person is anxious, or worried about monetary matters, he will certainly be unable to give meaningfully. He would become a penny-pincher. He would hoard rather than give what he has.
However, if he really believed that God had given him a kingdom, why should he hoard anymore? He would give of his possessions! He would even be happy to sell what he had and give to those in need.
“PROVIDE YOURSELVES MONEY BAGS WHICH DO NOT GROW OLD, A TREASURE IN THE HEAVENS THAT DOES NOT FAIL…” Luke 12:33
A person who truly understands what Jesus spoke of when He spoke about the Kingdom of God would comprehend that His focus was on heavenly and eternal things. The real treasures of life are characterized by the following features…
1. They are things which do not grow old… Luke 12:33
2. They are like “treasure in the heavens that does not fail…” Luke 12:33
3. This treasure is something that “no thief can approach (and steal)…” Luke 12:33
4. This treasure is such that “no moth can destroy” Luke 12:33
“WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO…” Luke 12:34
Jesus had finally come to the end of this discourse. Many had treasures that were earth-bound. Earthly treasures tend to bring anxiety, worry and fear. There is the fear of theft. There is the fear of treasures that could fail.
There was another kind of treasure. That particular treasure was essentially spiritual, eternal and heavenly. However not everyone has full understanding concerning what it means to have spiritual treasures.
The most important matter was brought up last! The heart played a vital role. Whatever the heart decides as treasure, the energies of the person would be totally devoted to obtaining that treasure.
If a person decided that his treasures are earthly ones, then he would spare no effort in seeking these earthly treasures. If on the other hand, he is spiritually enlightened, then he would indeed never be plagued by worries or anxiety concerning material things.
What are our treasures? There we will find our heart. May the Lord grant us wisdom to understand that the real treasures of life are heavenly and eternal ones. May our hearts treasure what it means to be given God’s Kingdom.