My Fellow Citizens

"Today's Devotion" For May 3, 2006

Read: Ephesians 2:11-13, 19-22; Malachi 3:16-18

MY FELLOW CITIZENS

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ...Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household..." (Ephesians 2:13, 19)

Perhaps one of the stickiest conundrums in modern U. S. history is the current "immigrant" problem the nation is struggling to answer in a positive way. With the continuing threat of terrorism, the public is worried about a border that leaks like a sieve. Millions upon millions of people who have entered the United States illegally, with no apparent desire to become citizens, frighten a good portion of the nation. Debates are raging over what types of legislation and enforcement of the laws concerning immigration are appropriate, without being heavy handed. Some want to declare all illegal, undocumented persons to be criminals. Others want a general amnesty to allow them time to apply for citizenship. Still others don't want to see anything changed and have taken the position that such illegal immigrants are used and abused and therefore need more rights.

Underlying this whole issue is a question of what's legal and what's not according to the laws of the land. For some, the laws are unfair (I even heard one pastor say they were asking us to do something that was against God's Will - I don't agree with him) and should be ignored. Others want to bring the full force of the law down on the heads of illegal immigrants, with no concern for compromise or mercy (a position I don't subscribe to either). Of course the people who are the subject of this national debate have exacerbated the situation themselves by holding protest marches on the streets of many U.S. cities, waving the flag of the nation they're from - perhaps indicating where their hearts and loyalties really lie. Just this Monday they held a boycott of their work places, shopping, and other activities to flex their "economic" and "political" powers. Did these actions gain anything? Only time will tell.

In the light of this issue of illegal immigration, Paul's discussion with the Ephesians concerning their citizenship in the Kingdom of God is telling. He notes that without Christ, we were foreigners and aliens to God and His Kingdom. We could not enter it, legally or illegally, by ourselves. It required the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross in order for God's justice to be appeased and His Law to be fulfilled. By virtue of Christ's righteousness, we, by faith, have been declared citizens of heaven and fellow heirs with Him of our Father's Kingdom. We have been made members of God's household, with all the rights and privileges accorded with that distinction. Our sins are forgiven, our hearts cleansed from Sin, and our lives renewed and restored to God's presence.

We have become "legal" citizens of God's Kingdom because Jesus fulfilled the Law for us. We have become "legal" citizens of God's Kingdom because Jesus paid the full price of God's wrath over Sin, once and for all time. As fellow citizens of heaven because of Christ, we are also called the beloved children and heirs of our heavenly Father. He has adopted us to be His own and its an adoption we treasure, an inheritance we honor, and a citizenship we fulfill as His true and faithful witness of His love for the world in Christ. Once we were strangers to God, foreigner and aliens to His Word and Kingdom, but now, in Jesus, we are fellow citizens of heaven with Him. We belong to Him and nothing will ever be able to snatch us out of His hand.

Prayer: Father, there are so many people wandering around our nation today, uncertain and unsure of what they should do about the issue of illegal immigration that is plaguing the nation and its culture. There are strangers who have immigrated illegally into the nation, living falsely among its citizens without any concern or intent - it seems - to become citizens. Father, this also happens in the spiritual realm and I pray that You would lead me and all Your people to share Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ with the world. Help me to lead people to Jesus' blood and righteousness, without which no one could be saved and become a citizen of heaven. Let my words and actions speak for themselves so that in them people might see Jesus and give You thanks and praise for Your love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.