Devo for 7/12/2026 - Message By Pastor Clint

Pastor Clint continued the series “Citizens of Heaven,” picking up where he left off last week.  He spoke about how Paul, as a Roman citizen, had to navigate tensions as a believer.   He wrote about the contrast between living for the world and living for Christ:

 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.  For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:17-20

Throughout history, we see this tension between being citizens of the world and citizens of Heaven.  Specifically to our predicament, as citizens of America and citizens of Heaven, Pastor Clint summed it up this way:

“Being citizens of Heaven does not compete with our American citizenship; it governs it.”  As Citizens of Heaven, we “neither worship a nation nor despise it.  We seek God’s purposes within it.” 

We all know that this world we live in, even in America, is full of temptations and oppression that seem to be influencing everything.  We are constantly bombarded with things the world thinks we want.  The voices speaking the loudest are usually the ones that are trying to steer people away from our Father.  All of this can be disheartening and, coupled with the busyness of the world, negatively affect us.  We have to be careful not to fall for this and “set our minds on earthly things.”

With this in mind, I want to challenge all of us to follow this charge from Paul:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2

This becomes easy to do if we will buy into this charge: 

“Citizens of Heaven should be the most grateful residents, the most faithful servants, and the most hopeful people in the nation.” Pastor Clint

I encourage everyone to slow down, sit with God, and ask Him how you are doing with being a Citizen of His Kingdom!

Don’t forget to invite God into your day!

Topic for Study

• Gratitude

  • Psalm 118:24

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:18

  • Hebrews 12:28

July Memory Verse: 

John 15:12

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”