Hello dear siblings
I pray you are well.
Recently, I was struck by the differences in general knowledge taught in our schools over time. In my era (yes, I sound like I’m started with the elders), children were taught Civics, perhaps with the aim of instilling national pride and social responsibility. Unfortunately, it was removed from the curriculum, with one of the deliterous results being the decrease in common courtesies being extended to the other.
If national pride and social responsibility include graciousness and common courtesies here on earth, what does it imply for citizens of heaven? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Philippians 3:20 NIV
[20] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Civic Responsibilities
Along with Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, the letter to the Philippians was composed during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome. He might have had a different view on life resulting from his incarceration, to the extent that this ‘thank you’ letter became an exhortation to live – not so much in accordance with earthly laws, but rather – with a clear sense of their second nationality, as citizens of Heaven. It causes us to wonder what must have been happening in the Roman Empire or in the prison system at the time that pushed Paul’s appeal.
Point to Ponder
What is the effect of current affairs on our faith? What would our letter to the saints comprise?
Application
Implicit in Paul’s exhortation is a critique of the Roman government. As ‘little Rome’, Philippi (the city) was perhaps given over to the norms and values of Rome, including idolatry, worship of living and dead emperors, and persecution of believers, which would have been contrary to Christianity. One historical site suggests life was ‘nasty, brutish, and short’ in Philippi. Yet, there were those,
like Lydia, who were prepared to live according to God’s laws and not humanity.
A call, therefore, to acknowledge heavenly citizenship for people who were fully Roman citizens was a risky one, as that could be perceived as civil disobedience and result in persecution and imprisonment. It could be a scary prospect for the average believer.
But Paul does not end the statement at citizenship. The word of hope is that there is a Saviour, Jesus Christ, in Whom there is redemption, hope, comfort, and support in times of persecution. That, siblings, is the reminder to us. While we live in our countries of residence, we see ourselves as bound to the norms and laws of the land. More importantly, we ought to understand and follow the laws of our heavenly home, allowing ourselves to be socialised in our Civic Responsibilities, as well as national pride. When persecution comes, and it most likely will, may we also find strength and comfort in our Sovereign and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Self-Check
To what extent are we living up to our civic responsibilities? Is there scope for improvement?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
