“Fear not little flock for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
– Luke 12:32
Luke 12:32 is one of my favorite verses in the book of Luke. It’s so short and simple and packed full of significant imagery, significant promises. The context, this is right after Jesus has just told his disciples, “Don’t be anxious about anything.” Earlier in this chapter, he’s told them, “Don’t fear anything. You are so valuable to God. You don’t have to worry. You don’t have to be anxious.” And then right after this verse, Jesus tells his disciples, “Sell your possessions, give to the needy.” Sell, give away things you have in this world for those who are in need. And so we can read this and be like, really? Don’t be anxious about anything?
Because of the Good Shepherd laying down His life for the sheep, we are God’s children and are citizens of His kingdom.
We’re in the middle of a pandemic. There are so many things going on around us that are potential anxiety inducers that cause us to worry. This is life in general. Then you add on top of that a pandemic. Really like don’t be anxious at all? And then like, let go of possessions, sell possessions, give things away to the needy, make sacrifices? That goes totally against the grain of this world. Right in the middle of that, verse 32, Jesus says, “Fear not little flocks.” I want you to see there are three images that Jesus uses here. First, “Fear not little flock.” He talks to them as a shepherd, speaking to sheep, picture that. A shepherd’s responsibility is to take care of sheep, to provide for sheep, to lead, to guide, to nourish, to feed, to pet, to help, to give sheep what they need.
God Allows Us To Be Worry Free
Jesus is saying, “That’s how I see myself in your life. I am your shepherd. I take responsibility for leading guiding, helping, nourishing, feeding you, providing you everything you need protecting you.” Get the picture. Jesus says, “I’m like a shepherd to you and you are sheep. For it is your father’s good pleasure.” The picture is a child with God as father.
I think about my kids. I love my kids so much. Want good for my kids. I want them to thrive. I want to provide for them. I want to help them want to help them grow. I want them to be all the God’s created them to be. I love them so much. I’m a sinner and I’m not a perfect dad. Even with all those desires, I’m clearly not a perfect dad, but God is the perfect father. He’s the perfect dad. He loves us as his children. Yes, we don’t have to worry when God is our father. It’s our father’s good pleasure. And here’s the last image, “To give you the kingdom.” God is the King and you are an heir of His kingdom. See, you don’t have to worry. Oh, let’s just pray.
Luke 12:32 Trusts In God To Be Our Shepard
So God, we say together right now in our hearts, we don’t have to worry. We don’t have to be anxious about anything. We can gladly give away possessions. We can gladly live in a way that’s totally different from the grain of this world because we see you, Oh God, Lord Jesus as our shepherd and we trust you as our shepherd today. God, remove anxiety and worry from hearts with the reality that you are our shepherd and our dad. That you, the sovereign God over all the universe, are our father we’re your children. Oh, God, help us to rest in this today.
Luke 12:32 Reminds Us We Are Heirs Of God’s Kingdom
And to realize that we are heirs of your kingdom. That we’re going to reign with you, Revelation says, “In your kingdom.” Yes, help us to throw aside the stuff of this world, the pleasures possessions of this world, to lay down our lives, to give to those in need, to love those who are in need and not to worry at any moment in that because we know we are citizens of your Kingdom, heirs of your Kingdom. That one day, we are going to be with you, our heavenly father, the shepherd who has led and guided us all the way.
And we’re going to reign with you and your kingdom. Help us to live with that kind of confidence and joy and security and satisfaction and love for people around us and trust in you. That is just free from all worry and anxiety and fear. God, we pray that today, I just pray this over every single person listening right now, help them to fear not as a little flock, for they know it is your good pleasure as our father to give your Kingdom to all who trust in you. We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
