A Different Allegiance

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." Ephesians 2:19 (NKJV)

The church is not a manmade structure or a human invention. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." The church is Jesus' idea. In Ephesians 5, Paul makes it clear that Jesus Christ loves the church. He is devoted to the church. And He wants you, as His follower, to be a part of it. But it takes your participation to make that happen. In Ephesians 2:19-22, Paul gives us three images that help us understand what it means to belong to this community.

The first image is this: we are citizens in God's kingdom. Paul writes, "You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints." There is a different relationship now. You may say, "I'm an American citizen." That's fine. But as a Christian, you have a dual citizenship. You may be American, but your primary allegiance should always be to Jesus Christ.

Jesus repeatedly spoke about His kingdom throughout the Gospels. When He came, He said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). In Matthew 6:33, He says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Even the political leaders of His day thought He was talking about a physical, political kingdom. We know, looking back, that He was speaking of a spiritual kingdom.

So what does that kingdom look like? Romans 14:17 tells us: "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Righteousness - being in right standing with God. Peace - the shalom of God - that contentment of knowing I am right with Him and in His family. And joy - not mere happiness, but something the Holy Spirit produces in our hearts regardless of our circumstances.

How do we seek first the kingdom of God? It starts when I ask Jesus to rule and reign in my heart. And after He rules in me, I seek His kingdom by praying for it to take hold in someone else. My spouse, my children, my grandchildren, my community. That's how we expand His kingdom. That's how we seek it.

Someone has described local churches as embassies of heaven. An embassy is an officially sanctioned outpost of one nation located inside the borders of another nation. It represents that nation, its government, its values, and its identity. If you've ever visited Washington, D.C., you can walk down Embassy Row and see flags from all over the world flying in front of their respective buildings. Entering an embassy feels like stepping into another country—an entirely different environment, language, and culture.

This passage is teaching us that the local church is an embassy of heaven. When you walk through the doors of the church, the believer who has said "Jesus, be my Lord" ought to sense something special: I belong here. This is my tribe. This is my country. This is a foretaste of heaven.

Christians should not be surprised when they go throughout this world and don't feel completely at home here. Jesus said His followers would be in the world but not of the world. You have a different allegiance. Your allegiance is not to the kingdoms of this world. It is to the kingdom of God. You are a citizen of a new country.

When you come to church, it should feel like home. Not because we always get it right, and not because we never disagree. But because we are living our lives according to the same Book - the Bible, and striving together to live under the lordship of Jesus Christ. We have a shared allegiance.

Reflection Question: Where do you feel the most tension between your citizenship in this world and your citizenship in God's kingdom? What is one practical way you can let your allegiance to His kingdom shape how you live this week?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that I am not a stranger to You. By the blood of Jesus, I have been made a citizen of Your kingdom, and I belong to something bigger than myself. Forgive me for the times my allegiance has gotten confused, when I have sought the things of this world more than I have sought You. Today, I ask You to rule and reign in my heart. Let my allegiance be clear. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: You Belong (Ephesians 2:19-22): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/vzdhfww/10-you-belong-eph-2-19-22