Friday: Further Thought – A Heavenly Citizenship
Daily Lesson for Friday 13th of February 2026
Further Thought
“Those only who are constantly receiving fresh supplies of grace, will have power proportionate to their daily need and their ability to use that power.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Instead of looking forward to some future time when, through a special endowment of spiritual power, they will receive a miraculous fitting up for soul winning, they are yielding themselves daily to God, that He may make them vessels meet for His use. Daily they are improving the opportunities for service that lie within their reach. Daily they are witnessing for the Master wherever they may be, whether in some humble sphere of labor in the home, or in a public field of usefulness.
“To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace; and from this communion with God He went forth to strengthen and bless others. . . .
“Every worker who follows the example of Christ will be prepared to receive and use the power that God has promised to His church for the ripening of earth’s harvest.”—Ellen G. White, God’s Amazing Grace, p. 117.
“God knows our wants, and has provided for them. The Lord has a treasure house of supplies for His children, and can give them what they need under all circumstances. Then why do we not trust Him? He has made precious promises to His children on condition of faithful obedience to His precepts. There is not a burden but He can remove, no darkness but He can dispel, no weakness but He can change to power, no fears but He can calm, no worthy aspiration but He can guide and justify.
“We are not to look at ourselves. The more we dwell upon our own imperfections, the less strength we shall have to overcome them.”—Ellen G. White, That I May Know Him, p. 224.
Discussion Questions
|
One thing stands out when I read the epistle to the Philippians; the pastorship of Paul. This is not one of his “difficult to understand” theological treatises that Peter describes:
Rather, it is an encouraging pastoral letter.
Actually Peter offered some pretty good advice that is worth remembering when we start arguing about theology; but that is another story.
Pastoring is the key to church cohesion. Jesus described his work as pastoral work (The Good Shepherd). This is not professional, paid minister-type pastoring, but the sort of pastoral work that every citizen of heaven should be involved in.
Here is a thought: Some folk have commented in the past that we are not preparing new converts properly before baptism. They have in mind doctrinal and lifestyle I think. But do we do anything about teaching pastoral care?
Perhaps we could start by modelling pastoral care ourselves.
Our God is too faithful that He cannot fail us, too powerful that He can change any situation for good, too concerned that He can help us maintain close relationship with Him, too compassionate that He will forgive us when we cry out to Him for mercy and pardon, too caring that He will provide all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, too protective that He has promised to fight our lives battles and give us peace and too expectant that He has prepared mansions already and waiting to receive us in heaven.
We have the following appeals and assurances to consider daily as we make our spiritual journey to heaven:
Galatians 6:9,10
“9. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith”
And
Isaiah 3:10
“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings” – Amen.
Many believers and even nonbelievers ask, “Where is God when we need Him most?” When burdens weigh us down, why is God silent? Perhaps no burden feels heavier than the Lord’s silence. In the words of David, “Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1). Many people carry hidden scars of pain from unanswered prayers, wondering why heaven seems quiet in their darkest moments.
I remember when my father was in a coma for two weeks. Our entire family prayed for God to heal him. I reflected on the daughter of Jairus, on King Hezekiah, and on the woman with the issue of blood in the New Testament. All I wanted was for my father to be healed. We believed our prayers had the right words and the right motives. Relatives and friends joined us in faith, trusting that God could help us as He had done before. For two weeks, we prayed and waited. Yet my father passed away, and I felt that God had not answered our prayers. Years later, however, I have come to realize that God did answer—just not in the way we expected. I am not the first, nor will I be the last, to experience prayers answered differently than hoped.
The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who cried out to God in moments of crisis, and sometimes—without explanation—their prayers were not answered as they desired. We often focus on dramatic miracles, like the parting of the Red Sea, rather than on the struggles of Paul, who spoke of a “thorn in the flesh” given to keep him humble (2 Corinthians 12:7). Despite pleading with God to remove it, the response he received was, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Sometimes, God’s answer is not deliverance from the storm, but strength to endure it.
As we live in the world that is full of challenges which are likely to make us be anxious,we are challenged to yield ourselves daily to God so that He can make us the vessels meet for His use.
When we look at ourselves we shall only see our imperfections and hence be discouraged. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Overcoming our imperfections is a gift from God. Looking into ourselves and recognizing our true nature is not easy. But let us not be negative, for the work of the One who loves us the most can restore our image to perfection! Jesus is the only way to the plenitude of harmony.
Just this last Wednesday night on our Prayer Meeting Online the discussion arose on our attaining perfection on this side of Heaven. The point I am about to make is this: we have to be aware, honest and truthful about our faults, weaknesses and imperfections and be concerned about overcoming them through God’s grace. Clearly one of the worst things we can do is to be willfully blind to our faults and weaknesses. As the Apostle John says-” If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” 1 John 1:8 kjv.
An answer to my prayer strengthens my hope, trust and faith in God.
Phil.4:8, we find how the mind and the thoughts of a child of God should be. This is important for two things:
1)The source of our minds and thoughts must be connected to God
2)Our Godly thoughts must transform our actions because from the thoughts and mind come
the actions of man.
We ńeed to ask God for the power to trust Him with our imperfections and to stand by faith on God to His will.
“A heavenly citizenship” – I wonder if we give enough thought and focus to the implications of this statement/thought/premise. How does our life reflect our citizenship, and how can we maintain it?
Today’s lesson uses quotes from Ellen G. White which cover all the bases – “yielding ourselves daily to God, that He may make us vessels meet for His use”. Ellen G. White ‘God’s Amazing Grace’ pg.117.
To be a citizen of His Son’s Kingdom here on earth entails the awesome responsibility – to be the witness to the Power of God who, by His Grace and Mercy, has brought us out of this world’s darkness into His heavenly Light – the kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ – Col.1:13-14.
This is only the beginning – the downpayment of His blessings the citizens of His kingdom receive to be used for His Honor and Glory. Until the right time, our God, our heavenly Father, is working out His ‘Good Will’ to restore all of His creation to again reflect His Glory – Rev.21:5; Rom.8:21; Acts 3:21; 2Cor,3:18; 2Cor.5:17.
God is very faithful to us no matter how sinful we are he still turns to us to correct us.
Wonderful encouragement And keep the word of God.