Citizen....

Philip. 3:17-4:1 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. [18] For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. [20] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. [4:1] Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

The way that Jesus asks us to live often stands out from the pattern that people who do not call Jesus follows. And here Paul calls us to follow his example, to live like him in living like Jesus. But as in most groups of believers it would seem that not everyone was living fully for God. As is often the case our attention and energy is often diverted elsewhere.

The concept of citizenship is one which would have resonated with the church in Philippi. In the ancient world citizenship was a ticket towards rights and privileges that many people were denied: the right to property, to special protection under the law, to representation. In fact most of the church at Philippi were probably people who were denied citizenship. You could maybe see why people’s earthly intentions were focussed on getting citizenship. But this required obedience to the Imperial laws and pledging of loyalty to the Emperor. It would lead to compromise, often exhibited in having to indulge in a lifestyle that while honouring Rome would deny Jesus.

So Paul again lifts the eyes of his readers towards heaven, and away from what is now towards what is to come. We are to look not at the earthly things that surround us, but towards the risen Jesus who will come again in power. We have to grasp our place as citizens of heaven, with all the protection, riches and privileges it brings with it, now and in the future.