PHILIPPIANS 1:27

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

I have shared before that years ago I worked for about six months at Walmart on their third shift (10 pm – 6 am). On that shift my job was to unload the trucks that arrived and stock shelves. It was a part-time job, but one I kind of enjoyed. A number of the employees, however, didn’t share the same attitude. They would look busy when the boss came by but would find places to hide and sleep or just goof off.

Paul wasn’t the Philippian believers’ boss, but he expected them to do the right thing whether he was present or absent. This verse is one we should all take to heart because He is coming soon. Amen? We need to be doing these same things today. Paul uses a Greek word here for “conduct yourselves” that is only used one other time in Acts 23:1 (we’ll see that in a minute). The word is politeuomai which means to live as a citizen. Let’s explore that.

APPLICATION

To live as a citizen means to live by the rules and laws of that city or country. One problem with illegal immigration is that they begin their life in the U.S. by breaking our laws. Now, don’t send me letters and postcards. I am just stating a fact. Being a good citizen implies maintaining the standard set by your community. In the Philippians’ case, Paul was exhorting them to live up to the standards set by Jesus.

In Acts 23:1, Paul is talking in his defense before the chief priests and the Jewish council. “Now looking intently at the Council, Paul said, ‘Brothers, I have lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.’” The phrase “have lived my life” is politeuomai. Paul had nothing to be ashamed of. He was living to please the Lord, not men. He was being a good citizen of heaven.

Are you living as a good citizen of heaven right now? Today is Easter Sunday. We have much to celebrate. Amen? We have the opportunity today to live in such a way that all those CEO (Christmas Easter Only) church goers that are in church today will marvel at our attitudes and worship. Live in such a way that the light of Jesus draws them like a moth to a streetlight. He is Risen!

O Lord, shine through me in every are of my life so that no matter where I am people will know that I am a citizen of heaven.