Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, Ephesians 2:19
When I was Growing up in Iran under a dictatorship, the government of U.S. looked very powerful, free, and out of reach to most of us. As a 15 year old, when I walked in the U.S Embassy in Switzerland to apply for a student visa, I was in awe. In the natural, the office didn’t look spectacular, but because it was representing the United States of America, it looked so majestic and powerful!
During that trip, I was granted a student visa to come to the U.S. I knew this was a great privilege because most Iranians would not have this kind of opportunity to come to such a great nation. I left everyone and everything I loved, in order to join this great kingdom. When I was finally granted U.S citizenship years later, it was even a greater privilege. I was no longer a stranger or a foreigner in this nation but a fellow citizen with millions of other Americans.
Becoming a citizen of the kingdom of God has even greater honor, and it has eternal privileges for those who are part of it. When we accept Jesus and His work on the cross, it gives us the opportunity to enter His Kingdom. The good news is that this citizenship is available to whosoever believes!
The amazing part of being granted U.S. citizenship was that I inherited every privilege that others had worked for, fought for, and died for! In the same way, Jesus did the all the work to buy us freedom and citizenship of the Kingdom of God. We get to inherit all these privileges without having to work for them. However, while these privileges are freely given to us, they came at a high cost to Him who fought for us.
The Kingdom of heaven gives us true freedom that no earthly government is designed to give us.Do you value being a citizen of the Kingdom of God? Do you know the privileges you are given as citizens of this free government?
I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.
2 thoughts on “The Kingdom of God (Part II)”
Mary R Voskamp
Karline, I am so thankful you came to the United States and are here to be a blessing to all by your leadership and sharing your spiritual guidance. I have read your entire blog from the beginning over the last couple of years and am almost caught up. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of the scriptures and your spiritual guidance .
Mary R Voskamp
Praise God! Thank you very much Mary for your kind and humbling words. I am thankful to the Lord for His impartation. I am also very excited that you have had the chance to read all my devotionals. Thank you for being a faithful reader. God bless
Karline, I am so thankful you came to the United States and are here to be a blessing to all by your leadership and sharing your spiritual guidance. I have read your entire blog from the beginning over the last couple of years and am almost caught up. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of the scriptures and your spiritual guidance .
Mary R Voskamp
Praise God! Thank you very much Mary for your kind and humbling words. I am thankful to the Lord for His impartation. I am also very excited that you have had the chance to read all my devotionals. Thank you for being a faithful reader. God bless