Matthew 22:21—Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Read todays devotion, Rightly Dividing Our Double Citizenship, from Meditations on Favorite Scriptures a daily devotional that focuses on the gospel promises of Jesus Christ. “To Caesar . . . to God.” Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees points out that each area of our double citizenship has its own specific purposes and responsibilities that are ordained by God. To bless us through his representative, the government, God has placed certain things into the government’s hands: matters concerning our temporal welfare, the protection of life and property, and the protection and defense of its citizens. Whatever involves the name and the Word of God, our spiritual lives and blessings, our prayers and our worship, the will of God for us as revealed in the Bible, our Christian faith is not the business of the civil government. These things are God’s and God’s alone. There is a God-ordained separation, then, between what is God’s and what is Caesar’s. One of the things we can be most thankful for as citizens of both kingdoms is that our country still recognizes this separation between church and state. Although, it is true that this distinction between the purposes and functions of the two kingdoms is often clouded today by government intervention in the affairs of the church and also by some churches’ attempts to intervene in the affairs of the government. May God help us recognize that we are, first and foremost, citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom through faith in Christ Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer. There is our first loyalty. But may he also help us recognize that it is our Christian responsibility to respect and obey the government as citizens of an earthly kingdom. How richly blessed we are as American Christians! We have the best of both worlds in our double citizenship. We have so many earthly blessings through God’s representative, the government. And we have all the spiritual blessings of faith, forgiveness, life, and salvation as citizens of God’s kingdom and heirs of heaven. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Prayer: Dear Lord, you have showered both temporal and spiritual blessings upon us through our double citizenship. Through the government and through your church, continue to provide us with every need of body and of soul. Hear our prayer for Jesus’ sake. Amen. From Meditations on Favorite Scriptures: Devotions for a Year, Edited by Curtis A. Jahn © 2007 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:30:00 +0000
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