Dr. Rick Mandl - November 3, 2020
Are You A Good Citizen?
Devotional Manuscript: Are You A Good Citizen?
Message by Dr. Rick Mandl, Tuesday November 3
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
Hey church Family, today is election day in the United States where every citizen has the right to vote for their candidate. Many have said that voting is essential to being a good citizen. In fact, the official guide to naturalization states “Citizens have a responsibility to participate in the political process by registering and voting in elections.”
Today, maybe more than ever before, the citizenry of our great nation is politically polarized. Each party is appealing to voters to cast a ballot for their candidate as the one who will either make America great again or restore the soul of America. In some circles, it’s implied, if not stated, that to be a responsible citizen you must vote for a specific candidate. I’ve heard some pastors suggest that because voting for the lesser of two evils, is still voting for evil, that they understand why some Christians might choose to abstain from voting altogether. The hype, the heated rhetoric, and the partisanship have not only divided our country but too often fractured the fellowship of some brethren.
We need to be reminded that as Christians we’re citizens of another country. A different Kingdom. A holy nation. To the saints at Philippi, Paul points out this great truth with these words: "But 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” (Philippians 3:20-21).
But Paul is writing to the proud Roman citizens, and reminding them that they must never forget that they are citizens of heaven’s kingdom and that your behavior should correspond to your citizenship. Earlier he challenged them . . . “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the 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).
Both the English words translated “citizenship” and “conduct” are from a Greek word from which we derive our word “politics.” They speak to the behavior of a good citizen. The qualities and characteristics of spiritual citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom rises above our current partisan political divisions.
It would be a good exercise to read the 4 chapters of Philippians in the context of your conduct as a heavenly citizen. In just a few minutes you’d realize that God wants Kingdom citizens…
...To be singled minded in their devotion to Christ
…To possess the joy of faith
…To live with a heavenly hope
…To behave in a manner that complements the gospel
…To be loving. United. Unselfish. And others-focused
…To develop the attitude of Christ
…To be a light shining in a sin-darkened world
…To beware of divisive, contentious, and harmful people and philosophies
…To press on toward our eternal prize
…To rejoice in the Lord. Always
…To worry less …To pray more
…To think on things that are true. Honorable. Just. Pure. Lovely. Admirable. Excellent. And praiseworthy
…To learn the secret of Christian contentment
…To rely on the Lord’s power for strength
…And to never forget God that will supply all of our needs.
Christ’s kingdom knows no physical boundaries or borders. Please join me in praying that we won’t allow an election, or our earthly citizenship, or our patriotism to diminish, to denigrate, or to dishonor our heavenly citizenship.
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA.
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