REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on December 4, 2016, is provided by Joanna Tzen, a friend of AMI, who attended and served at Grace Covenant Church for a long time. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“I Live Here But This Isn’t My Destination”

Phil 3:20 

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Something else that has been making me long for my heavenly home is all of the recent election rhetoric (2016). Political and government news is somewhat interesting for me, but I usually keep my opinions to myself. This is probably due to my confrontational-avoidant nature, but that’s for another day’s devotional.

I work on a very liberal campus and I was struck by the somber nature of the day after the election. I understand the disappointment and fear many felt that day, and continue to, but at the same time, it has never been more apparent to me that who and what the world hopes in truly is not eternal. I am an advocate of us as Christians being good stewards while we are here, meaning we vote and stay informed of and engaged in the world around us, but it became very clear to me that those at my workplace placed all of their hope in a person or political party or a government. 

That day, I thought about how I am ultimately a citizen of heaven, and no earthly authority can change that truth. My trust and hope is in the One who laid the foundations of earth and overcame death. He is unshakeable and immovable. Not only do we hope in Jesus while we are here, but we have hope that there is a renewal coming for all things, when there is a new heaven and new earth.

My prayer is that even in divisive times, Christians of all persuasions can identify that we hope in the same God; and even in this time, this will allow us to point others to the One who will never fail us.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart and show me if I have placed my hope in the things that will pass, either in my own dreams or things of this world. If so, please forgive me, Lord, and help me to place my hope in You once again. Remind of how faithful You have been in the past and how You keep your promises in the present and future. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  John 10-11