Citizenship
The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.” Acts 22:28
I was born a United States citizen. Today there are many people who don’t appreciate being an American, but to me it is a great honor. I believe the words in the old patriotic song that say “there is no greater land on the earth.” Being an American has great benefits and our country has freedoms that many other nations do not have. Rights such as leading a quiet and peaceable life. We have the right to bare arms and protect ourselves. We are able to come and go without harassment or interrogation. Most importantly, we have the right to worship God whenever and with whomever we want to and gather together in buildings that have been built for that specific purpose.
In today’s reading, the apostle Paul had been arrested and was about to be examined under scourging. It was quite a barbaric process and one that the Romans took great pride in perfecting. When Paul told the centurion that he was a Roman citizen, that changed the entire situation. It even got the attention of the commander who told Paul that he had to buy his citizenship. That is when Paul told the commander that he was a natural born citizen. That was a game changer and immediately Paul was removed from the scourging chamber and became under the protection of the Roman guard. Even though Paul was Jewish and had a dual citizenship, he was still able to benefit from the Roman laws. He was not too proud to speak up about being a Roman and he was wise enough to know what his rights were as a Roman citizenship.
If you have received salvation in the blood of Jesus, than you have a dual citizenship too. If you were born in America than you have natural citizenship as an American. However, when you were born again into the kingdom of God, you have become a natural born citizen of heaven, right now here in this world. You now have the benefits of heaven at work for you, but they can only work effectively if you know what your benefits are.
Psalms 103 is a great place to start to learn some of the most important benefits you possess as a citizen of heaven. They are:
- God forgives and releases you from the punishment of all your sin and iniquities
- He heals all your dis-eases
- He redeems (buys back) your life from being destroyed
- He crowns (puts them right on top of you) your life with His loving kindness and tender mercies
- You are satisfied with the good words of your mouth to renew your youthfulness
- He executes His righteousness and justice when you are being oppressed by the enemy
Even though these benefits belong to you, that doesn’t mean you will never have anything in this fallen world come against you. When you are up against any trouble, you must, like the apostle Paul did, invoke these rights and remind yourself and the enemy that you are a citizen of heaven and not subject to the oppressions of this world. When you do, you may go through trouble, but God will bring you out of that trouble every time because He already promised to!
Today I want to encourage you to find out what your benefits are as a born again, child of God, citizen of heaven. Begin to search out His promises in His Word that belong to you as part of God’s family. Start writing down the promises you already know He has given to you in your salvation in Christ Jesus. Then when trouble comes, and it will, remind yourself and others that you are a citizen of heaven and the afflictions of this world do not belong to you. Stand on those promises in God’s word and His faithfulness to that word will get you through to victory every time.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 22:22-30
22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!”
23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,
24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”
27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”
28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”
29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
The Daily Dose 