"Fear not little flock"
J. C. RYLE
The Lord Jesus knew well the hearts of His disciples. He knew how ready they were to be filled with fears of every description, fears
] because of the fewness of their number, fears because of the multitude of their enemies, fears because of their sense of weakness and unworthiness. He answers these many fears with a single golden sentence - "fear not, little flock; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom".
Believers are a 'little flock'. They always have been, ever since the world began. Professing servants of God have sometimes been very many. But true Christians are very few. It is foolish to be surprised at this.
It is vain to expect it will be otherwise until the Lord comes again. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14).
Believers have a glorious kingdom awaiting them. Here upon earth they are often mocked and ridiculed and persecuted and like their Master, despised and rejected of men. But "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed". "When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear then shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Rom. 8:18; Col. 3:4).
Believers are tenderly loved by God the Father. It is 'the Father's good pleasure' to give them a kingdom. He does not receive them grudgingly, unwillingly and coldly. He rejoices over them as members of His beloved Son in Whom He is well pleased. He regards them as His dear children in Christ. He sees no spot in them.
Even now, when He looks down on them from heaven, in the midst of their infirmities, He is well pleased; and hereafter, when presented before His glory, He will welcome them with exceeding joy (Jude 24).
Are we members of Christ's little flock? Then surely we ought not to be afraid. There are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. God is ours, and Christ is ours. Greater are those that are for us than all that are against us. The world, the flesh and the devil are mighty enemies. But with Christ on our side we have no cause to fear.