Citizen of Heaven

Do you think that where you live says something about who you are? Where we live can communicate all sorts of things about us: what we think is valuable, how we spend our time, what opportunities are available to us, and what freedoms we do or don’t have. For most of us, the country we’re from is also the place where we feel most comfortable.

In today’s passage, we learn that, as followers of Jesus, our real citizenship – the place where we belong – is actually heaven. If we’re citizens of God’s kingdom, then our home on earth is just temporary and not the place where we truly belong. As a result, we should expect opposition. If we don’t feel out of place in our world, then perhaps it is because we’ve become too comfortable here. The temptation for us is to have all our focus and attention on the here and now, but we must instead look towards what is still to come.

In other words, we should be living now as the citizens of heaven that we are. How do we do this? By living the way God wants us to and showing love, patience, and kindness even towards those who don’t show us the same.

Questions: 

1. Do you ever feel out of place? Why do you think you can find confidence in your citizenship in heaven? 
2. In Matthew 6, Jesus tells his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom will come. Do you pray that? Why might it be a good idea to pray for this? 
3. Do you know anyone who feels out of place and unloved? How might you help them by living as a citizen of heaven?

Prayer:

Almighty God, I give you praise because you are mighty and powerful, yet generous and loving. Thank you for making me a citizen of your kingdom through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Help me to live as a citizen of heaven now, and I pray that your kingdom will come soon. Amen.