Written by Karen Ehman
04/20/2018
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“Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27
I once overheard a conversation while playing softball as a teen. Our
left-fielder, while describing another woman, declared, “Oh she is
almost so heavenly minded that she’s no earthly good!” It made me
wonder, is this old saying in fact true?
It
reminds me of my friend, Thida. She’s a natural-born citizen of
Cambodia who relocated to the United States when she married Keith, a
Michigan resident. I had the pleasure of not only attending their
wedding reception, held here in the states, but later writing a
recommendation letter for her when she applied for U.S. citizenship.
In
order to become a citizen, Thida had to read and study to become
well-versed in American history and the laws of the land. This was no
easy task. After she passed the entrance exam and the committee reviewed
her recommendation letters, she was ready to make it official. Her
smile stretched wider than the Golden Gate Bridge when she became a
full-fledged American. Even though legally she’s now a member of our
country, she’s also still a natural-born citizen of Cambodia.
We
Christians are very much like my friend. Though we dwell here on earth,
we should be ever-cognizant of the fact that, first and foremost, those
of us who know Jesus personally are citizens of heaven. What we think
and how we act should reflect this truth. This truth which says, “Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27a).
Citizens of heaven. Residing on earth. As a dual citizen, we must read and study God’s laws, making sure we take our heavenly citizenship seriously. Will others be able to vouch for us, confident that we’re people who represent the Kingdom well?
As
citizens of heaven living lives that reflect the gospel, we should
behave in a way that benefits other citizens of earth. As we share
Jesus’ love and carry out the commands of Scripture, it makes us more
compassionate, helpful, encouraging — more concerned about justice and
caring for the poor, marginalized and ostracized.
Today,
my friend Thida dwells in a quaint Midwest town; yet she never forgets
how her birthplace is a country halfway around the globe. Although she
lives out her days as a woman in America’s heartland, she’s ever-mindful
of her beloved homeland and how much being connected to it means to
her. The sights, sounds and language of Cambodia are forever embedded in
her being.
This
is what we are: citizens of heaven, reflecting the good news of eternal
life in Christ to our fellow earthlings all around us who are watching
our behavior. Let’s remember our aim is to live a life worthy of the
gospel of Christ — one that draws others to Him when they see our loving
behavior.
May we be both heavenly minded and earthly good.
Dear
God, I am living here on earth as a foreigner. Help me not become too
wrapped up in the way the world does things. Help me continually place
my treasure and hope in heaven as I reflect the gospel to a watching
world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Truth For Today
Philippians 3:20, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)
1
Chronicles 29:14-15, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we
could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we
give you only what you first gave us! We are here for only a moment,
visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our
days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.”
(NLT)
More from Proverbs 31 Ministries, here
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