Today’s Scripture Passage:
2 Corinthians 5:11-6:2
Key Verse:
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Philippians 3:20a (NLT)
I too often concern myself with what is of no consequence in the Kingdom of Heaven. I forget an important truth…
Those who belong to Jesus are citizens of Heaven!
Citizens of Heaven are Ambassadors on earth and in the cities where they live.
Ambassador
– an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.
– a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity.
Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator
I (and you) must remember we’re not meant to live as dual-citizens.
We’re only representatives living in this foreign land.
Who are we here to represent?
Jesus Christ!
What are we here to promote?
Reconciliation!
We are Ministers of Reconciliation for Jesus.
We are Ambassadors for Jesus Christ living in this world and surrounded by people who are dying in their sins apart from Him.
I learned something else about ambassadors during my Bible time yesterday. Isn’t the LORD amazing?!
I discovered ambassadors are also the king’s messengers to other citizens of their home country who are also living in a foreign land. I included those verses from Jeremiah in the Digger Deeper section below, but the message was sent to encourage God’s people.
It was God’s reminder to trust Him, believe His promises to them, to help them understand He put them there for a purpose, and to know He would fulfill His plan for them. His message also admonished them to work for the peace and prosperity of the city where He sent them, and to pray for it (the foreign city) because their welfare was linked to the welfare of the place they were living.
God’s word is very clear, those who are in Christ Jesus are new creatures. We’re no longer citizens of this world but of His Kingdom. While here, we’re to seek His Kingdom, do what is right, and trust Him for all our needs. We’re to encourage one another to live and work and love well. We’re to work for the good of the place He sent us to live. We’re to pray for it, and we’re to pray for one another. May we be found faithful ambassadors!
LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. Thank You for the privilege of being your representatives here. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage, and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!
Digging Deeper:
Jeremiah 29:3-14, Matthew 6:32-33, John 17:14-16, Ephesians 6:18, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Peter 2:10-12 & Revelation 1:5
If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Fun Facts:
I just learned the difference between a citizen and a denizen. They both reside in a particular country but denizens are foreigners. I guess that makes us denizens!
Denizen
– an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place.
– a foreigner allowed certain rights in the adopted country.
Oxford Dictionaries · Bing Translator