It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!

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(George Mylne, "Fear Not!" 1854)

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

Reader, are you one of the redeemed flock--the "holy flock"--the "beautiful flock." (Jeremiah 13:20, Ezra 36:38.) Then the good Shepherd says to you, "Fear not!"

I know not what your worldly means may be. You may have to work hard for your bread, and have a large family depending on your labors. Perhaps you have known better days, and the bread of your humiliation may have a bitter taste. You may have had great great expectations which came to nothing. Schemes of ambition, or prospects of gain, may have been blighted. Promises of advancement may have failed. Your whole life may have been one chain of trials:
  trials of poverty;
  trials of bereavement;
  trials of disappointment;
  trials in the family;
  trials enough to break your heart--
if it were not stayed on Jesus. But fear not!
He has words of comfort to cheer you!
He has gold tried in the fire, to make you rich!
He has honor and privilege, to make amends for all your trials!
He says, "Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!"

You may have lost much that you once possessed. You may have failed to have all that you desired, or expected to have. But, child of God, think what it is to have the Kingdom of Heaven!
Who is rich--if you are not rich!
Who is happy--if you are not happy!
Who is honorable--if you are not glorious!
Fear not, child of God! Fear not poverty. Fear not trial. Fear nothing which makes you feel your dependence upon God.

Envy no man of his possessions, his honors, or his pleasures--you have far more than he has!
Earthly riches make to themselves wings and fly away--but your riches endure forever.
Earthly crowns are corruptible--but your crown is incorruptible.
Earthly pleasures are but for a moment--but yours are eternal pleasures at your Father's right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

But, reader, the Scriptures tell us that we must go through much tribulation to enter into the Kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22.) But your "light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" (2 Corinthians 4:17.) Before long, through God's sustaining grace, you shall sit down with Christ on His throne! (Rev. 3:21.) Child of God, remember the promise; obey the precept; think of the heavenly Kingdom, and fear not!

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