Week of July 6, 2025
God has put us in this country, which is filled with many blessings available to us. We enjoy freedom in so many ways, especially to openly worship and follow Jesus Christ. Sometimes, however, our love of liberty and our political concerns can overshadow our Christian allegiance. The frustrations of daily life and concerns for our future can take our eyes off Jesus and cause us to have misplaced priorities. As citizens of God's Kingdom, as well as of the United States, we ask the Lord to set our priorities straight and to put first His kingdom and righteousness in our lives.
Monday | Psalm 73:21-26; Lamentations 3:19-26
We start our week with the Old Testament concept that the Lord is our “portion.” Even when things are not going well, speaking in earthly terms. The prophets of Israel remind us that it is the Lord who provides for us and who offers eternal security. What would it mean for you to see the Lord as your “portion”? In what ways has he provided for you through living in the USA? Take a moment to give thanks for His provision.
Now, how does this truth color the way you think about living in the U.S.? About the government? About politics?
Tuesday | Colossians 1:9-14; Ephesians 2:14-21
Paul introduces the idea that salvation in Jesus Christ has changed our status. We are now a part of God’s Kingdom and citizens of His heavenly realm. How do these passages speak to you regarding the blessing of such citizenship? In what ways does your heavenly citizenship inform your identity? How could/should it be a bigger part of how you identify yourself in this world?
Wednesday | Matthew 6:31-34; Philippians 1:27-30
Paul uses the word for living “as a citizen” here, a form of the word for translated “citizenship” in chapter 3. His admonition is that our lives be defined as good citizens of God’s Kingdom through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What would it mean for you to put God’s kingdom first in your life as you think about your rights and freedoms as an American citizen? How might this inform and influence your current political views?
Thursday | Philippians 3:16-21
How might the goals and desires of earthly (USA) citizenship differ or even conflict with the goals and desires of heavenly citizenship? How can you make an effort for your heavenly citizenship to take precedence and influence how you view your earthly citizenship? How might being a “good” citizen of heaven make you a better US citizen? How can churches (local gatherings of Christians) around our country work to bring benefit to all of the people in our nation?
Friday | Matthew 22:34-40; John 8:31-35
Jesus brings us back to where we started this week. Where should our ultimate and undiluted allegiance lie? How can our devotion to personal rights and freedoms, or our politics, cause us to lose sight of our allegiance to God? How can it cause us to lose sight of our love for every neighbor that God asks us to be concerned for? What next steps will you take to make your heavenly citizenship a priority for you?
