November 16 – Citizenship In God’s Family

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” - Ephesians 2:19 (ESV)

 If ever one finds themselves in a place, a country or even city that they are not native to, it can be uncomfortable. Another word for ‘aliens’ is ‘sojourners’ – that is what Abraham and his clan were when they lived in Canaan. A sojourner was a transient with not property or permanent residence where they sojourn. God’s kingdom is made up of the people from all time who have trusted in Him. There are no strangers, foreigners, or second-class citizens there.  This verse reminds us of our identity as Christians. God wants us all to recognize the great change that He made in our status and identity. Our verse speaks of our former status as foreigners and aliens without standing in God's family. But now we are citizens. God sent His Son into this world to make this change possible. Although before we didn’t belong to God, He wanted us to be His. These are two descriptions of us in the verse. We are citizens together with God people, citizens with eternal rights to heaven. Even more, we belong to God's household, members of His family. What a life affirming promise that is for us today.

 

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November 16 –Citizens and Members

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household” Ephesians 2:19 (NASB)

God’s kingdom is made up of the people from all time who have trusted in Him. There are no strangers, foreigners, or second-class citizens there. Redeemed sinners not only become heavenly citizens but also members of God’s own family. The Father bestows on believers the same infinite love He gives His Son.  This verse reminds us of our identity as Christians. This is the promise God makes for each of us and He wants us all to recognize the great change that His promise makes in our status and identity the moment we believed in Jesus as our Savior – the only way to heaven. Our verse speaks of our former status as foreigners and aliens without standing in God's family. But now we are citizens. God sent His Son into this world to make this change possible. God recognized that we, His creatures didn't belong to Him but He wanted us to be His by new birth. We are citizens together with God people, citizens with eternal rights to heaven. Even more, we belong to God's household, members of His family. What a life affirming promise that is for us today.

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January 30 – Dual Citizenship

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…”  -  Ephesians 1:3  (ESV)

For those who in faith have believed God’s word and become members of His family, we hold a dual citizenship.  It is not in the same way people born in one country of parents from another might have citizenship in both. Christians are citizens of earth where they were born, but they are also citizens of Heaven where they were reborn and adopted into God’s family. If that is our position, we do well to guard against becoming so hooked on the charms of this present world that we fail to look forward to heaven.  The apostle Paul cautions us to set our minds on heavenly things and not earthly things.†  Jesus taught us to store up our treasures in heaven because those treasures will last and are secure forever.‡ God extends to us all the rights and privileges of our heavenly citizenship. Let’s be encouraged by that assurance to live for His glory and rely on His heavenly provisions. Guard against impure ambitions or trivial pursuits which distract us from our heavenly priorities. 

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† Colossians 3:1-2,   ‡ Matthew 6:20


Today's entry is drawn in part from Drawing Near devotional by John MacArthur 1/5/2020 Copyright © 1993.

November 16 – Not Aliens But Citizens

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,” Ephesians 2:19 (NIV)

This verse reminds us of our identity as Christians. God wants us all to recognize the great change that He made in our status and identity when we believed and accepted Jesus as our Savior – the only way to heaven. Our verse speaks of our former status as foreigners and aliens without standing in God's family. But now we are citizens. God sent His Son into this world to make this change possible. God recognized that we, His creatures didn't belong to Him but He wanted us to be His. These are two descriptions of us in the verse. We are citizens together with God people, citizens with eternal rights to heaven. Even more, we belong to God's household, members of His family. What a life affirming promise that is for us today. 

July 2 - In the Family

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,” Ephesians 2:19 (NIV)

Our verse today is one of many in the Bible that tell us the truths about our God and what happens to us when we believe in Jesus Christ. It is uplifting and encouraging to know that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we are brought into a new relationship.  We become members of God's family and this involves a close relationship to God and to other members of His family. Let's not forget, today, that we belong to God. We are not outside, we are in the family. We can depend on Him to demonstrate His love to us. We can talk to Him and He will respond. He will show us how true our verse is today and that we can depend on this promise of kinship with God and our Lord Jesus Christ.