Citizens of Heaven

"Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News." Philippians 1:27

I read this passage a couple weeks ago and it has been sitting on my mind for awhile. What does it look like to be citizens of heaven? Just thinking about that takes my breath away. I don't know what it was about seeing it on a page just made it so real. I looked up the word citizen in the dictonary and this is what it said:

An inhabitant of a city or town; especially: one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman

Entitled to the rights and privleges, we have privleges of being a citizen of heaven! So what does this mean? It means God is so gracious to give us citizenship to his home, to his kingdom! He doesn't force it upon us, he gently offers us the choice to live in enternity with him. But for one price, our lives. "Then called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34

Its hard to give ourselves completely up to Jesus. We are humans who wish to control everything, to have the power. But wouldn't life be much simpler if we just gave all control to the one above? The one who knows the big picture, the plan. God called us to a life of freedom and joy. If we live our lifes for Him everything becomes more simple. We don't have to worry about what the next step is, we just sit a long for the ride.

How would our lives look differently if we sat in the passenger seat instead of the drivers? How would it look different if we actually acted like citizens of heaven? I challenge you to truly seek Jesus in a deeper way and find out how much freedom you will find. The truth will set you free.

In Christ,

Heather