"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ"- Phil 3:20 (NIV).
Once, after his arrest, the Apostle Paul was about to be flogged. "As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty" (Acts 22:25). The centurion went and immediately reported to the commander who on confirming so, held back. "Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains" (vv 29)
Throughout history there has always been nations at the top whose citizenship is the desire of all. At the dawn of the millennium the Romans controlled much of the known world and to be a Roman citizen was the ultimate achievement. At one point the British Empire run across a third of the globe and those who were privileged to be British citizens had particular rights and benefits. Lately, we know we have seen the American age and how being a US citizen is craved by many.
People can often go at great length to pay for citizenship of those super powers. "Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship" (vv 28). Even today there are many who would do almost anything. They would wade through dangerous seas. They would sell all their possessions. They would pay any price for that elusive hope of taking on the citizenry of a great nation. Once they have it they walk around with their heads tall holding on rightly to that all important passport.
But one thing with all these citizenship is that there are all of a temporary nature. The citizenship of the nations of this would all come to an end. Yet there is a citizenship that is eternal. When someone surrenders his life to Christ and becomes born again (John 3:16) he takes on a new citizenship of being a child of God. He is now a member of God's precious family.
Today, as a child of God, walk too, with your head high, for what is more than being a citizen of the eternal Almighty God.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of heaven and earth, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy to know that I possess the greatest citizenship any can have, which has been paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and am so blessed!
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16/04/2024 - 17/04/2024 All day“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8)
Have you had a moment when you felt you were out of time? It is “too late” is perhaps what went through Martha and Mary when life slipped out of their brother Lazarus. But when news got to Jesus he did not drop whatever he was doing to rush to their rescue. “So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days” (John 11:7). Later he decided to go and, “On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days” (vv 17).
Yet in spite of this delay Jesus found Martha’s faith apparently not shaken. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (vv 21-22).
Meanwhile Mary who had stayed in the house on hearing of his arrival came out wondering if there was any hope. “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verse 32). She felt it is too late.But it was not too late. “Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (vv 40). Thus, “When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (vv 43-44).
If you believe in the Almighty God, then there is nothing like too late! Perhaps you too have a matter that has not only been ailing for a while but by all physical appearance is dead. Well, if you believe, it is not too late. It was against reality and quite laughable to think that a man who had been dead for four days could be restored to life. Well, the Lord did it. What more is it with you that the Lord can’t restore to life?
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth. you who raised Lazarus from the dead even after four days of being in the tomb, I bring to you all my affairs even that which appears dead, that you restore it to life, for nothing is too late with you, because of the faith have in your son, Lord Jesus
