Citizenship

Readers of any regularity here know that I enjoy following politics.  ("Enjoy" might be the wrong word since politics can be so maddening so often.)  It's easy to get caught up in current events and to lose sight of the eternal perspective we're called to have as Christians.   Yes, I've been placed in this time, in this country, in this state by God.  But it's not my home.  I came across a good reminder of this in a book on the minor prophets we're studying in Sunday School, The Prophets Speak of Him: Encountering Jesus in the Minor Prophets by Anthony Sevaggio. In the chapter on Amos, I found this:

The nation-building work of Christ has profound implications for believers. First, Jesus calls you to be a citizen of his kingdom and to place your allegiance to his kingdom above all else. In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ commands us to seek first his kingdom (Matt. 6:33). In Paul's letter to the Philippians, he reminds us that our citizenship is a heavenly citizenship (Phil. 3:20). To be a citizen of this kingdom means ordering your life according to the laws of the King. Second, being a citizen in this new nation brings tremendous benefits and privileges. In the second chapter of Ephesians, Paul informs us that while we were once excluded from citizenship, we are now, through the work of Christ, 'fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household; (Eph. 2:19). As a citizen of this new nation, you enjoy all the benefits of being a member in Christ's body. You hear the Word of God preached. You receive the sacraments. You enjoy the fellowship and encouragement of other believers. Most of all you enjoy union with Christ. Finally, it is part of your calling to continue the nation-building work of Christ. This work is not over. Christ continues to build this nation by adding new members. You are called to participate in this work by sharing the good news of this kingdom with those who are foreigners and aliens to its promises. Christ has called you to be an agent of his redemptive work of nation-building.

This world is not my home. This world is not my home.  This world is not my home.  I need the reminder.