But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20 NABRE
Paul is writing to the community in Philippi about the Second Coming of Jesus. He is speaking to the community about those who do not conduct themselves as friends of Christ but rather enemies. Paul wants the reader to imitate him, as he has conducted himself as a model that demonstrates proper conduct. Paul tells them they’re citizenship is in heaven. He also explains that from heaven they are awaiting the return of Christ. Christ will come again, judging those who conduct themselves well and those who conduct themselves as enemies. Paul also teaches we are citizens of heaven, with a new home. The home we live in today is not where God intends for us to live. We are not meant to struggle and fight to survive and hope to find reward in life. God has created us to be citizens of heaven. In heaven we have a savior, Jesus Christ, who saves us because we are significant and important all on our own. God wants us to know we should live as citizens of heaven, like the most significant beings in all the universe. After all our fellow citizens include God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Prophets and Saints and all people who will be born after us and come to believe. There is no greater citizenship that we could receive, it is free gift from God, through Jesus’ life.
We know this requires effort, we can’t just say I believe and then do whatever we want, even live as if we don’t truly believe. Our efforts must go to draw nearer to Jesus, to show our faithfulness and to be people attractive to others, saying, “I want to be like them.” We put a lot of stock in what we believe but it is what we do that really matters. Be like Paul, conduct yourself well.
Do you watch your conduct with others? Can you imagine being a citizen of heaven?
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