【双语灵修】我是天上的国民

腓立比书 3:17-21

弟兄们，你们要一同效法我，也当留意看那些照我们榜样行的人。因为有许多人行事是基督十字架的仇敌，我屡次告诉你们，现在又流泪地告诉你们。他们的结局就是沉沦，他们的神就是自己的肚腹！他们以自己的羞辱为荣耀，专以地上的事为念。

我们却是天上的国民，并且等候救主，就是主耶稣基督，从天上降临。他要按着那能叫万有归服自己的大能，将我们这卑贱的身体改变形状，和他自己荣耀的身体相似。

5月28日

我是天上的国民

“我们却是天上的国民，并且等候救主，就是主耶稣基督，从天上降临。” - 腓 3:20

国民身份有它的特权。一个国家的国民可以享有教育、社区服务、社会服务、医疗等福利。

作为天堂的国民，这身份更把我们带到一个完全不同的层次。我们的身份若是植根于基督，衪的家便成为我们的家，因为借着衪我们成为神的儿女，我们拥有永存的基业。虽然我们仍在世上生活，我们拥有特权，作为一个不是人手所做国家的一份子，去过丰盛的生活。

作为天堂的国民促使我们追求更崇高的目标，采取一个比地上国民身份所能提供的更为广阔的视角。这会改变我们的优先次序，重新校定我们的志向，加添我们的能力坚持下去。

如果你看过热气球发射的过程，你便会明白发射时的挣扎。气球里热气愈是充得多，气球下的篮子便愈难停留在地上。连同篮子绑在地上的绳索也变得愈发绷紧和拉紧。而当绳索放松了，气球便雄伟地升向天空。同样，我们越被神的灵充满，我们对在神永恒国度中生活的愿景便越强烈。

把焦点放在这些事上，会驱使我们不单是过一个渴望天堂的生活，更尝试把天堂的美善带到地上。

祷告

天父，在我们应对世上的挑战时，惟愿我们能常常把你放在我们生活中的首位。求你帮助我们把我们的盼望锚定在永远与你一同过丰盛生命的目标上。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

Philippians 3:17-21

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

I AM A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN

“Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 3:20

Citizenship has its privileges. Citizens of a nation can have access to education, community services, social services, health care, and more.

Being a citizen of heaven takes us to a different level altogether. When our identity is rooted in Christ, his home becomes ours, because through him we become children of God with an eternal inheritance. Even though we still live here on the earth, we are privileged to live abundantly as part of a kingdom not crafted by human hands.

Being citizens of heaven prompts us to pursue higher goals and take on a broader perspective than mere earthly citizenship can offer. This transforms our priorities, redirects our ambitions, and empowers us to endure.

If you have seen the launching of a hot-air balloon, you understand the struggle. The more the balloon fills with heated air, the greater the struggle to keep the basket earth-bound. The cords holding it to the ground become taut and strained. And when they are released, the balloon majestically ascends toward the heavens. Similarly in some ways, the more we are filled with God’s Spirit, the stronger our vision for life in God’s eternal kingdom becomes.

Focusing on these things moves us to live in a way that not only longs for heaven but also seeks to bring a taste of heaven to earth.

Heavenly Father, as we navigate the challenges of this world, may we always put you first in our lives. Help us to anchor our hope in full life with you forever. Amen.