November 14, 2021

Bob Maas
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good."
Titus 2:11-14
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
1 Peter 2:9-10

I used to love my country more than I loved God’s Kingdom. Before I started following Jesus I even thought that my citizenship entitled me to live forever in heaven when my existence on earth is over. I don’t recall ever being taught that but it was a basic presupposition I believed to be true. I am grateful for His revelation that there are only two governments that exist in God’s universe; His Kingdom of light and the other kingdom of darkness. As wonderful as my country’s form of government is, along with the freedoms it affords, it still falls short of His glorious Kingdom. I am now much more committed to Him and His Kingdom than the government of my natural birth. By my surrender to Him I believe I am a much better citizen to my homeland than I was before because now, by His mercy and grace, I have my priorities in their proper order. I pray for the Lord’s absolute rule in my life.