Content with Heavenly Citizenship

 November 10, 2024

Sunday

To tell you the truth, I don't know how Paul did it. He had so many setbacks, so many discouragements and he kept plugging along. He must have set his eyes on a different goal.

I admit I have set my eyes on seeing people as the means of church growth. I feel like a failure when they don't come. I see others have the success I am looking for and feel badly that their success bothers me. This is the cause of much of my distress in the ministry. I have my eyes set on the things the world calls success.

 Paul set his eyes on God's kingdom. He had people leave him, too, but he looked beyond the moment to see his own success found in obedience rather than results.

Paul set his mind on heavenly things. The work of a Christian is to make disciples. The goal of a Christian is to live a life that will make those disciples. He would live that way even if others didn't follow his example.  He was satisfied with a life that pleased God without the accolades of the large crowds that would denote success.

Paul saw those who left his discipleship as those who did not know where their citizenship lay. Their god became their belly. This is the seat of emotions. They wanted what made them feel good.  And they felt good with their minds sated on the things of this world. Others who strayed from the faith bothered Paul but they didn't keep him from plugging ahead.

Paul saw that Jesus would transform his body to be like that of Christ's. He saw Jesus as having the power to subject all things to Himself. 

Yet, none of this keeps people from leaving. It brings pain to each of us to see people follow their emotions. However, we must realize that it causes God pain too. Still, God lets them leave. I guess no one gets dragged into God's kingdom.

I admit that it is hard to be content with obedience when it doesn't produce noticeable fruit. Paul learned that secret. We all must learn that secret. It is the same secret as being content with a little or a lot.

Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV) ¹⁷  Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.