
HOW CAN WE LIVE LIKE DANIEL?
Day 1 Recognizing our Dual Citizenship
Read: Philippians 3:20, John 17:14-16
As we learned in Week 1, exile means that we are not living where our home is. Both Philippians 3:20 and John 17:14-16 remind us that our home is in Heaven. Our true citizenship is in Heaven, not here on Earth. Dual citizenship here on Earth means that we have obligations to both countries in which we claim citizenship. That is no different with our dual citizenship in Heaven. We have obligations here on Earth to our families, friends, jobs, governments, etc. We also have obligations in Heaven.
When we leave our home country, we are expected to represent our home country in a manner that would not bring shame or disgrace to it. That is no different to our heavenly obligations of proper behavior here on Earth that would be consistent with that of heaven.
We owe taxes to both countries of citizenship. On Earth we should be paying our fair share to support the government within which we live. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 22:21b “…So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Also, Jeremiah’s guidance to the exiles was to prosper the nation they were living in. To do that we have to support it financially as well with our talents.
We also owe a debt to Heaven. Matthew 6:19-24 talks about storing up treasures in Heaven. But how do we store treasure in Heaven? 1 Timothy 6:17-19 talks about doing good, being rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In that way we store up treasure in Heaven.
How much would it benefit our earthly world if we focused on doing good, being rich in good deeds, and being generous and willing to share? While storing up treasure in Heaven, we are also being good citizens here on Earth and having a positive impact. However, working ourselves to death at a job to pay our bills and buy cool things only impacts our life here on earth. How much more would we enjoy life if we focused on the things of heaven that also benefit us here on earth?
I am not saying working hard is bad or having wealth is bad, but when they are only there to support our earthly cravings, it does not help our treasures in heaven. What are some things you can do today that will benefit you in heaven? Are there daily habits you can form that show kindness and generosity to others?
Prayer
Dear Lord, please show me the ways that I can show generosity and kindness to others. I want to have a lasting impact here on earth that benefits my eternal home in heaven. Show me how I can have dual citizenship that focuses on making life good in both places. Amen.
Day 2 Keep an Eternal Perspective
Read: Colossians 3:2, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
When we maintain a proper perspective, we tend to stay on track with the tasks at hand. When we lose that perspective, we tend to wander, get sidetracked, and pretty much go off course. Think about a restaurant. What perspective do they need to be profitable? They need to maintain a perspective of good service and quality food, right? If a restaurant has quality food and good service, they will have repeat customers and then new customers. As long as they maintain that perspective of good service and quality food, they will be successful. Yes, I am simplifying it. Food prices, food type, location and many other things also play into that equation. But for our example this works.
We know from yesterday that we are not taking material things with us. So, what are we taking? Relationships. Relationships are the one thing that transcends time and place, earth and heaven. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we are keeping the perspective of 1) growing the kingdom and 2) storing up treasures in heaven, we will be growing our relationships both in quality and quantity.
This is not a challenge to get more followers. This is a challenge to be more impactful to the people you meet. When we are maintaining an eternal perspective of goodness and kindness, we will be impacting those around us in a positive and loving way and will be building positive eternal relationships.
The way we build positive relationships is maintaining our relationship with God. That means daily talking with Him. Daily reading of scripture. Daily study of God’s plan for our life. When our relationship with Him is flourishing, everything around us will benefit. When we are overflowing with love from God, we will be sharing that love to everyone we meet. That maintains our perspective on heavenly things and therefore we do heavenly tasks.
What is my main perspective on life at this time? What should my main perspective be? What can I do to transition towards a heavenly perspective?
Prayer
Dear Lord, my perspective needs adjusting. Please help me to change my focus so that my perspective is on the things of heaven and not of this world. Show me what a heavenly perspective looks like so that I can focus on that.
Day 3 The Pilgrim Mindset
Read: Philippians 4:11-13
Tourists seek a vacation from their daily lives to potentially see something famous or grandiose. Travelers wander on a journey without a true destination just because they love to be on the road. Explorers are looking for an adventure, for the thrill of unearthing things rarely seen. Pilgrims are on a journey to find a sacred path or destination. As they travel, they do good for those they meet and serve those in need. Pilgrims travel with the necessities of life. Carrying too much baggage would weigh them down. They don’t have room for unnecessary items. What unnecessary items are you carrying on your journey? Too much guilt? Too many material possessions? Too much pain?
By not carrying all that excess baggage, pilgrims are content to work with what they have or come across. By trusting God for our daily needs, He gives us the things we need when we need them. That way we are not dragging around things we don’t need that would wear us out. Even manufacturers have figured this out with just in time deliveries. They get the part they need when they need them so that they are not storing excess parts on site that are just taking up space. They can focus on the manufacturing and less on the warehousing.
As pilgrims and children of God we should be no different. God didn’t create us to be storehouses of stuff. He created us to be in relationship with Him. When we get bogged down with the stuff around us, we take our focus off of him and lose our perspective. A pilgrim has a destination. That destination provides the direction. The destination does not provide the path. The path chosen by the pilgrim is a function of how the person operates. Some of us are good with a rocky, steep trail that challenges us but can provide a direct path to our destination. Others need a flatter, winding path that keeps us even keeled, moving along at a steady pace, taking a much longer road, but still arriving at the same destination. The reality is many of us are somewhere in between. Choosing a winding, flat path when we need to rest and a steep, rocky path when we are energized and ready for a challenge. Any of those paths work as long as we are maintaining our perspective and focus on the destination.
What path are you traveling down? Are you traveling down a path that leads to a heavenly destination or an earthly destination? What focus may need to change to redirect your path? Are you carrying anything that is unnecessary for your journey? What is stopping you from unloading it?
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to unload the baggage that I was not intended to carry. Help me to adjust my perspective and focus so that my destination is on heaven and not the things of this world. Help me as I unload the things I do not need for my journey and help me to be content with the things you have provided for me. You have my best interests in mind and will supply my needs. Help me to trust that. Amen.
Day 4 The Impact of Heavenly Citizens on Earth
Read: Micah 6:8
What impact did Mother Teresa have on the country of India and around the world? What impact did Martin Luther King, Jr have on the inequalities of those of a different skin color? While those are 2 famous figures who stood up for the disenfranchised and suffered personally for it, they impacted the world in a way that exemplifies what Micah 6:8 says. Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.
When we are heaven focused, and we are truly walking humbly with our God, we will not be able to stop the positive impact to those around us every day. Our impact on this world will be life changing for some and course altering for others. It may be something as simple as a smile or kind word. Or it may be more profound like providing shelter or food.
As citizens of Heaven, we represent all the qualities of Christ. As we exhibit those qualities, we bring Christ’s impact to those around us. We bring heaven to earth. From Matthew 6:9-13 we pray “your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”. 2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us we are the ambassadors of Christ. We represent Christ and Heaven here on earth. When we represent our home country well, people want to visit our home country. When we represent Heaven well, people want to know how to get to Heaven. Our actions matter as much as our attitude and vice versa. We say we love and cherish everyone, but if our actions demonstrate otherwise, our words mean nothing. Likewise, if our actions demonstrate care and compassion but we loathe and despise those we are helping, our actions are hollow.
God is calling us to be change makers, not just to the world around us but within our own lives. To do that we have to let God work in us and through us. What are you fighting God for in control of your life? What inward behavior is becoming an outward problem? What outward actions are not becoming inward attitudes?
Prayer
Dear Lord, help make me the person You have called me to be both inside and out. Help my words and actions be the same and be an overflowing of your grace and love. Help me be Your hands and feet in everything that I do. I truly love You and want to be that love to people I know and meet. Amen.
Day 5 Live With Hope and Purpose
Read: Hebrews 6:19, 2 Corinthians 5:20
In yesterday’s reading it mentioned being an ambassador for Christ as identified in 2 Corinthians 5:20. What is an ambassador? Webster’s Dictionary defines it as: “a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.”
Let’s break that down. A diplomatic agent of the highest rank. Not a lowly peasant. Not a slave. Not a servant. A diplomatic agent of the HIGHEST rank. As an ambassador you have clout. You have standing. You have authority. But of what do we have authority? As a representative of our own government. As Christians, our government is that of Heaven, Christ’s Kingdom. Our mission comes from God. Those old enough just pictured the scene from the Blues Brothers where they say they are on “a mission from God.” At least I did… That mission is our special assignment here on Earth. And how long is that assignment? It is temporary. We are not meant to be ambassadors permanently. We are only here temporarily. We get to go home, at some point.
Do you feel like an ambassador? Do you act like an ambassador? Why or why not? What is holding you back?
Hebrews 6:19 speaks of the hope that is our anchor. But what is that hope? Verses 17 and 18 talk about that hope being God in His unchanging character and His inability to lie. We are anchored by the promises and guidance God has provided throughout scripture that His word will come to fruition. His support is always there. We are not alone. We are not left to wander and flounder about. We just have to accept the assistance. We do that through regular meditation on scripture, regular discussions with God in prayer, regular meeting with other believers, serving others, and sharing the Gospel.
As an ambassador, we share about our home. Are we living as if our home is in Heaven? What would it look like for you to change your mindset and live as if Heaven is your home?
Prayer
Lord, you are my rock and anchor. I am tethered to Heaven. Help me as I learn what that means and as I strive to live that out. Help me to grasp that I am only here temporarily and that I represent you and Heaven. Open my heart and mind to those I meet so that they see You and Heaven in me. Amen.