At the prayer meeting last night we had a discussion about our citizenship. We were discussing the different political situations in the world and the up-coming American election. We talked about the importance of realizing that the only place we call home is the Kingdom of God and, although we vote for those who best represent Jesus, we do not belong to the process. We have no part in civilian affairs. We are Kingdom dwellers.
Now this morning, I open the Word of God to see what I will be writing about today and I read this:
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Citizens with God's people, members of his household. Not Canadians, Americans, Brits, or anywhere else but citizens of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we live as if we have duel citizenship but this nullifies the most important citizenship. With Jesus it is all or nothing. We are only passing through here, and God has placed us exactly where he wants us because he needs us in that place. We are passing through this place but we are passing through with purpose.
It doesn't matter where we were born, what language we speak or what traditions we follow, when we accept Jesus as Lord all that stuff falls away and we stand as a new citizen of the Kingdom. We are part of God's family. That is how we must see each other. If I meet a brother from Russia I do not see a Russian but a fellow citizen of the Kingdom. We do not allow to exist any differences between us because we are united by the same Spirit, have the same King and are loved by the same Father.
As citizens of the Kingdom we must rise above any boundaries or traditions that would attempt to divide us. There are brothers and sisters being killed in various parts of the world because of the name of Jesus. Egypt and India are bad places to be as Christians but our Father has placed them there for a reason and they must stand their ground. What are we doing to support them. Are we praying? Are we reaching out in support? Or is it because they are not from our country that we don't care?
This is crazy. We can't let things of this world divide us. Politics of this world cannot be a wedge. It doesn't matter your age, sex, nationality or tradition when it comes to our citizenship. The Word tells us:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
For our American friends I would like to add Republican nor Democrat. For those in Canada, especially Quebec, I would add, Federalist nor Separatist. You are familiar with your part of the world and know the things that divide there so consider them. In many of the countries were there is Muslim unrest, our brothers and sisters are suffering. We look at the news and want to wash our hands of the whole thing, but our brothers and sisters are there with a purpose. Don't allow the traditions of this place to blind you to the work of the Kingdom.
We need a real good shacking up so the blinders will fall from our eyes allowing us to see with God's perspective. Far above everything else we are citizens of the Kingdom. We have a responsibility to support, encourage and build up our fellow citizens. It dishonours our King for the citizens to tear each other down over things that have nothing to do with the Kingdom. There should be no differences between us, only love, peace and joy. It would do us good to remember which of our passports is for eternity.
No comments:
Post a Comment