CITIZENS: Goodbook 06-07-12

Goodbook messages arrive every Monday, Thursday, and Friday with a Scripture reading and ideas for how to apply the Scripture reading in our lives.  We are currently reading through the book of Acts.  For more Bible readings, follow our Advanced Track.

Reading: Acts 16:35-39
(Advanced Reading: Jonah 1-4)

³⁵ When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶ The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” ³⁷ But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.” ³⁸ The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. ³⁹ They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.

Application:

Paul was a citizen of Rome.  As a citizen of Rome, you had certain privileges and protections.  For instance, you had the right to a trial.  When Paul and Silas were trhown in prison for healing a young woman, they had not been given a fair trial.  Instead, they were beaten and imprisoned.  Now that the guards were trying to get rid of them quietly, Paul would not have it.  Paul was claiming his privilege and protection as a citizen of Rome. 

Citizenship in Rome came with more than just privileges and protections.  It also came with a responsibility.  Being a citizen of Rome also carried with it a responsibility to spread the influence of Rome—its customs, language, currency, religion, etc.

Later Paul would make a connection between citizenship in Rome, and our citizenship in heaven.  In his letter to the church in Philippi (a Roman colony), Paul wrote: "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ," (Philippians 3:20).

Citizenship in heaven comes with priviliges and responsibilites.  We have the privilege of a Savior who forgives our sins, heals our brokenness, and overcomes sin and death.  We also have the responsibility to spread the influence of heaven.  As Jesus taught us to pray, "May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

The question for us is: Are we claiming our privileges and responsibilities as heavenly citizens?

1) Claim the privileges our Savior so freely offers: forgiveness, healing, new life, the power to overcome.
2) Spread the influence of heaven by what you say and do.

Share your comments and application ideas...