Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

July 10– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Fellow citizens with the saints.” 

—Ephesians 2:19

What does it mean to be citizens of heaven? It means, first of all, that we are under heaven’s government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; our daily prayer is, “Lord, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We cheerfully receive and obey the decrees of the Great King.

It also means that as citizens of the New Jerusalem we share heaven’s honors. The glory that belongs to beatified saints belongs to us for we are already sons of God– princes of royal blood. Already we wear the spotless robe of Jesus’ righteousness; already we have angels for our servants, saints for our companions, Christ for our Brother, God for our Father, and a crown of immortality for our reward.

As citizens, then, we have common rights to all the property of heaven. The gates of pearl, the walls of crystal, the river of water, and the twelve fruit trees planted on its banks– all are ours. There is nothing in Heaven that doesn’t belong to us.

And, finally, it means that we enjoy Heaven’s delights. Do the angels rejoice over sinners that repent and return to the Father; then, so do we. Do they chant the glories of triumphant grace? We do too! Do they cast their crowns at Jesus’ feet? So do we! Are they charmed with his smile? It is no less sweet to us who live below.

If, then, we are citizens of Heaven, today let us be consistent with our high dignity. [M&E]