Trading Up - Gaining a Better Citizenship
Week Theme: Trading Up - Gaining a Better Citizenship
Introduction:
This week, we’re focusing on what it means to trade our earthly citizenship for heavenly citizenship, based on Philippians 3:18-21. We'll explore the transformation that comes with following Jesus and embracing our true identity in heaven. As we dive into these scriptures, we’ll reflect on how our values, actions, and mindset should reflect our heavenly citizenship. Each day, we’ll spend 5 minutes in Scripture, 5 minutes journaling, and 5 minutes in prayer. Let’s explore how living as citizens of heaven impacts every area of our lives.
Look up all the Scripture references, including the additional verses, and reflect on them during your devotional time.
Use the journaling prompts to write your reflections and thoughts in a meaningful way.
Spend time in prayer, focusing on the day's theme and applying it to your life.
Day 1: Trading Earthly for Heavenly Citizenship
Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV)
"Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Journal: Reflect on what it means to have your primary identity as a citizen of heaven. How does this reframe how you see yourself, your priorities, and your relationships? Where might you still be living with a mindset focused on earthly citizenship?
Prayer: Ask God to help you live more fully with a heavenly mindset. Pray for guidance in shifting your identity and allegiance to reflect your heavenly citizenship more clearly.
---
Day 2: Where Your Heart Belongs
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24 (ESV)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
Journal: What are the distractions in your life that pull you away from your focus on Jesus? Are there areas where you find yourself living for temporary, worldly pleasures rather than eternal priorities?
Prayer: Pray for the strength to resist distractions and earthly temptations. Ask for a heart and mind that are set on heavenly things, focused on what truly matters in the long run.
---
Day 3: The Power of Transformation
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 (ESV)
"I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'"
Journal: Reflect on the hope of transformation—both physical and spiritual—that Paul describes. How does this promise of future transformation affect how you approach struggles, suffering, or limitations in your life right now?
Prayer: Thank God for the promise of transformation and the hope of a future where you will be made new. Ask for grace to live with confidence and hope, knowing that this life is not the end.
---
Day 4: Living as a Citizen Now
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Journal: How are you living out your role as an ambassador of Christ? In what areas of your life do you feel challenged to better reflect God’s kingdom values? Where can you show grace, love, mercy, or justice this week?
Prayer: Pray for the courage and strength to live out your citizenship in heaven here on earth. Ask God to help you see opportunities to be an ambassador for Him in your daily life, bringing His kingdom to those around you.
---
Day 5: Shifting Your Focus
Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Journal: Where are you tempted to conform to the world’s values? How can you renew your mind daily to focus on God’s kingdom and not the distractions of this world?
Prayer: Ask God to renew your mind today and every day. Pray for wisdom and discernment to see where you are tempted to conform, and for the strength to choose God’s ways over the world’s.
Reminder:
Look up all the Scripture references, including the additional verses, and reflect on them during your devotional time.
Use the journaling prompts to write your reflections and thoughts in a meaningful way.
Spend time in prayer, focusing on the day's theme and applying it to your life.
Look up all the Scripture references, including the additional verses, and reflect on them during your devotional time.
Use the journaling prompts to write your reflections and thoughts in a meaningful way.
Spend time in prayer, focusing on the day's theme and applying it to your life.
Day 1: Trading Earthly for Heavenly Citizenship
Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV)
"Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Journal: Reflect on what it means to have your primary identity as a citizen of heaven. How does this reframe how you see yourself, your priorities, and your relationships? Where might you still be living with a mindset focused on earthly citizenship?
Prayer: Ask God to help you live more fully with a heavenly mindset. Pray for guidance in shifting your identity and allegiance to reflect your heavenly citizenship more clearly.
---
Day 2: Where Your Heart Belongs
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24 (ESV)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."
Journal: What are the distractions in your life that pull you away from your focus on Jesus? Are there areas where you find yourself living for temporary, worldly pleasures rather than eternal priorities?
Prayer: Pray for the strength to resist distractions and earthly temptations. Ask for a heart and mind that are set on heavenly things, focused on what truly matters in the long run.
---
Day 3: The Power of Transformation
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 (ESV)
"I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'"
Journal: Reflect on the hope of transformation—both physical and spiritual—that Paul describes. How does this promise of future transformation affect how you approach struggles, suffering, or limitations in your life right now?
Prayer: Thank God for the promise of transformation and the hope of a future where you will be made new. Ask for grace to live with confidence and hope, knowing that this life is not the end.
---
Day 4: Living as a Citizen Now
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (ESV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Journal: How are you living out your role as an ambassador of Christ? In what areas of your life do you feel challenged to better reflect God’s kingdom values? Where can you show grace, love, mercy, or justice this week?
Prayer: Pray for the courage and strength to live out your citizenship in heaven here on earth. Ask God to help you see opportunities to be an ambassador for Him in your daily life, bringing His kingdom to those around you.
---
Day 5: Shifting Your Focus
Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Journal: Where are you tempted to conform to the world’s values? How can you renew your mind daily to focus on God’s kingdom and not the distractions of this world?
Prayer: Ask God to renew your mind today and every day. Pray for wisdom and discernment to see where you are tempted to conform, and for the strength to choose God’s ways over the world’s.
Reminder:
Look up all the Scripture references, including the additional verses, and reflect on them during your devotional time.
Use the journaling prompts to write your reflections and thoughts in a meaningful way.
Spend time in prayer, focusing on the day's theme and applying it to your life.
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