Morning by Morning, November 7 - "Citizens of Heaven"
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- align my spirit, soul, and body with You and Your will and Your ways for my life today (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). ...
"We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord" (Philippians 3:20-4:1 NLT).
When You walked this earth in Your mortal body, You paid taxes and so do we (Matthew 17:24-27). Your Word says to pray for those in authority in our government, and so we do (1 Timothy 2:20). We are citizens of our country, but we are also citizens of heaven. We live in the world, but we are not of the world (John 17:14). You sent us into the world, but we don't belong to the world (John 17:16-18). And we thank You that You have already "overcome the world" (John 16:33 NKJV).
Through our faith in You, with our eyes on You, we overcome the world too. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world -- our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5 NKJV). So no matter who wins or loses the election, no matter what positions our politicians proclaim, the Kingdom of God prevails and our citizenship of heaven trumps our citizenship on earth. It's from there we pray and proclaim the victory of the One who has overcome -- the One "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty! (Revelation 1:8 NKJV) To borrow from and paraphrase the words of an old country song, "It don't matter who's in Austin, Jesus is still the King!"
So as we engage our world, let us pray and proclaim, with our voices and our votes; let us be Your salt and light -- "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world," that "they may see (our) good works and glorify (our) Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV). As citizens of heaven, You've already "raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:16 NKJV).
From our position in Christ and our citizenship in heaven, let us make a difference through the principles of our lives and the power of Your Spirit here on earth, here in our world "in which (we) shine like stars in the world" (Philippians 2:15). That's how Your kingdom comes and Your will is done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). And at the same time, we long for the day of Your return and the fulfillment of Your Word that "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15 NKJV) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, I pray you shine like a star in your world, like the salt and light of Christ in you, secure in your citizenship in heaven to make a difference on earth, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Friends, please come join us for the First Wednesday Service of Prayer and Healing at Oak Hills Church tonight, Crownridge Campus, where I'm excited to join in sharing a message of hope and healing. All are welcome! In the South Room at 7pm.
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Please share this word to encourage a friend!
