The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
—Acts 22:22-29

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
—Philippians 3:20-21

~~~~~

Citizen of Heaven
By Jennifer Kane

I once stood tall beneath my nation’s flag,
A proud earthly citizen, saluting the sky,
Wearing the uniform of the people,
Ready to serve, to fight, to die.

I honored those who led before,
I pledged allegiance with steady voice,
I trusted the wisdom of earthly rulers,
And in my homeland, I took my choice.

But time and truth began to whisper,
Through the Scriptures, clear and strong—
That no earthly crown or constitution
Could claim my soul or right my wrong.

Like Paul, I once boasted in birthright,
In law, in heritage, in pride of place—
Yet now I count it loss and nothing,
For the priceless gain of knowing grace.

For my truest home is not in a border,
Not in a song or a battle cry;
It is written in the Lamb’s own ledger,
It is sealed in Heaven’s courts on high.

Here, no corruption can stain the banner,
No tyrant’s hand can seize the throne;
Here, the King is righteous forever,
And He calls my heart His very own.

So while I still walk these earthly paths,
And honor the lands where my feet have trod,
I rest in the citizenship unshaken—
The Kingdom of Heaven, the city of God.

For one day soon, my Savior returning,
Will change my body, weak and worn,
To be like His—glorious, eternal,
And I’ll see His face on that bright morn.

So let the nations rise and falter,
Let the flags be raised, then fade away—
My heart belongs to the greater Kingdom,
Where Jesus Christ the King does reign.

~~~~~

Scripture: Acts 22:22-29, Philippians 3:20-21

Paul had just shared his testimony of how Jesus transformed his life, but the crowd in Jerusalem reacted with anger and violence. The Roman commander, seeking to understand the uproar, ordered that Paul be flogged for questioning. But Paul asked a simple question that stopped the injustice: “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” (v. 25).

Roman citizenship carried immense legal protection. A citizen could not be beaten or punished without a proper trial. This status instantly changed Paul’s situation—the commander became cautious, and the beating was avoided. In that moment, Paul’s earthly citizenship was a shield against injustice.

Yet Paul’s life shows us something deeper: even though his Roman citizenship saved him from unfair treatment, his truest identity was not in Rome—it was in Christ. Paul often wrote of himself not first as a Roman, but as a servant of Christ Jesus (Romans 1:1). Earthly rights have value, but they are temporary. Our eternal identity is as citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), children of God, bought with the blood of Christ.

We live in a world where identity can be tied to nationality, achievements, or social standing. While these can open doors or protect us in certain ways, they are not the foundation of who we are. Like Paul, we may at times need to use our earthly rights to defend against injustice—but we must never forget that our greatest citizenship is in God’s kingdom, secured not by legal documents but by the cross of Jesus Christ.

Have you ever been thankful for rights or protections you have in this world? How did they help you?
In what ways do you need to remember that your truest identity is found in Christ, not in your nationality, career, or status?
How can you live each day as a citizen of heaven while still honoring your responsibilities on earth?

This week, think of one way you can live out your heavenly citizenship—whether by showing Christlike love, defending someone treated unfairly, or sharing your testimony like Paul did.

~~~~~

Father God, thank You for the blessings and protections I have in this life. But most of all, thank You that my truest identity is in Christ. Help me to stand for justice, use my rights wisely, and live in a way that reflects my heavenly citizenship. Let my life point others to You. In your name I pray, Lord Jesus, Amen.

August 6 2025