2 Kings 23:31-25:30
Acts 22:17-23:10
Psalm 2:1-12
Proverbs 18:13
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1qF0E54
CityLight Pastor Commentary:
“And Paul said, ‘But I was born a citizen'” (Acts 22:28). When Paul told the Roman centurions that he was a Roman citizen, they became afraid. They were about to beat Paul without cause, and they knew it was illegal to treat a Roman citizen that way. Immediately, the situation changed. Paul had a choice: he could either accept his scourging, or he could speak up and declare his citizenship. He chose the latter, knowing that the beating was not God’s will, but man’s, and that he would be a far more effective witness for Christ alive than dead. Satan’s desire is for each of us to suffer unnecessarily at the hands of evil men: to be denied our citizenship when we need it most. We must be like Paul. As disciples of Christ, we are all citizens of Heaven! Those who oppress us will lay down their arms when we rise up and declare our citizenship for everyone to see!
Prayer:
Father, help me to remember that I am a child of God and a citizen of Heaven! I didn’t obtain my citizenship on my own, but Christ won it for me. That means I can never lose it. Help me to declare it boldly!