Scripture: Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Devotion: One of the roles of an ambassador is to protect the citizens in their home country. When people travel internationally, it is the responsibility of an ambassador to ensure their safety and well-being to the best of their abilities. They assist in emergencies, such as political unrest or natural disasters. Overall, they seek and pursue the fair treatment of their citizens.
As followers of Jesus, our citizenship is not in this world. We can take pride in our home country and where we come from, but we recognize that our home is not here. We are citizens of heaven. What does this responsibility, protecting the citizens of our home, look like in light of that? The idea of ensuring the safety and fair treatment of our citizens expands beyond those who already know that their citizenship is in heaven. It is a unique citizenship in that it is open to all who accept Jesus. It is not closed off or restricted to anyone based on specific criteria or qualifications.
So, perhaps protecting, ensuring safety, and pursuing fair treatment looks a lot like sharing the Gospel with people who do not know it. When we share the good news of Jesus, people’s eternal destiny can change. I can think of no greater protection for people than sharing the hope of heaven and life with our Heavenly Father. There is no greater assurance of well-being for people than knowing that they are loved and held in the palm of God’s hand (Psalm 139:10). We can experience the fullness of joy in His presence and will be in a place with no mourning, tears, grief, or heartache. Sharing this hope that is available to all through Jesus is one of our most important responsibilities as ambassadors.
Reflect:
- How do you share the good news of the Gospel with others?
- How does being reminded of people’s eternal lives change your perspective on sharing it?
