The awesome privileges and responsibilities of our being assigned so pivotal a role as determining where God’s kingdom power shall “invade” this world can almost seem frightening. You may think, “Who am I to lay claim to such power?” But Jesus has anticipated our reluctance and feelings of unworthiness. He says, “Don’t be afraid—it is the Father’s will to give you the kingdom.”
There is a tender significance in the Greek verb form used here. Our text might as well be freely translated: “It is the Father’s delight to press the kingdom into your childlike hands.” It’s a beautiful verbal picture our Savior paints for us.
Imagine little children today leaving for school. A charitable fund has invited contributions from each home, so the father takes money and ties it in a handkerchief. Then, he presses it into the child’s hand and ties the gift and the kerchief to his or her wrist. Now it is certain. The father’s desire to make the gift will find its destination via his child’s hand.
And so Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid to receive prayer’s powerful potential to change your world. It’s the Father’s loving gift—through you!”
