Matthew 25:31-46 31 But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: 32 and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; 33 and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; 36 naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink? 38 And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, `even' these least, ye did it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. 46 And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.

This month most Americans are celebrating the founding of our country. Flags are flying, families are gathering, and fireworks fill the night sky. We do this to show appreciation for our American citizenship and to honor those who sacrificed to provide our freedoms. However, there is a citizenship that transcends all national boundaries.

No matter where you live right now, if you believe in Christ, then you and I are fellow citizens of the kingdom of God. The word kingdom denotes royal power or dominion over a specific region or people. Therefore, the kingdom of God refers to the Lord’s complete rule and authority. While He certainly reigns in the hearts of His devoted followers here on earth, we must not forget the term also refers to His sovereignty in heaven.

Jesus is currently seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, but today’s passage points to a time when He will return to earth to sit on His glorious throne and reign over the entire world. He will vanquish all His enemies, remove the wicked from the earth, and welcome the righteous into His glorious kingdom. And as kingdom citizens, you and I will rule together with Him ( Revelation 3:21 21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. ).

Certainly nations and nationalities are important, but they are not eternal. All those who belong to Christ are first and foremost citizens of His kingdom. This means that all the geographical borders and barriers that separate us have been removed in Christ, and we are all one in Him. When we worship, we should see one another as fellow citizens in God’s realm. 

Bible in One Year: Psalms 120-131 Chapter 120 1 In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me. 2 Deliver my soul, O Jehovah, from lying lips, `And' from a deceitful tongue. 3 What shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done more unto thee, Thou deceitful tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of juniper. 5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! 6 My soul hath long had her dwelling With him that hateth peace. 7 I am `for' peace: But when I speak, they are for war. Psalm 121 A Song of Ascents. Chapter 121 1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come? 2 My help `cometh' from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 Jehovah is thy keeper: Jehovah is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; He will keep thy soul. 8 Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 122 A Song of Ascents; of David. Chapter 122 1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah. 2 Our feet are standing Within thy gates, O Jerusalem, 3 Jerusalem, that art builded As a city that is compact together; 4 Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of Jehovah, `For' an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks unto the name of Jehovah. 5 For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God I will seek thy good. Psalm 123 A Song of Ascents. Chapter 123 1 Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants `look' unto the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid unto the hand of her mistress; So our eyes `look' unto Jehovah our God, Until he have mercy upon us. 3 Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scoffing of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud. Psalm 124 A Song of Ascents; of David. Chapter 124 1 If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, Let Israel now say, 2 If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, When men rose up against us; 3 Then they had swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, The stream had gone over our soul; 5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6 Blessed be Jehovah, Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: The snare is broken, and we are escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 125 A Song of Ascents. Chapter 125 1 They that trust in Jehovah Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever. 2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, So Jehovah is round about his people From this time forth and for evermore. 3 For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; That the righteous put not forth their hands unto iniquity. 4 Do good, O Jehovah, unto those that are good, And to them that are upright in their hearts. 5 But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel. Psalm 126 A Song of Ascents. Chapter 126 1 When Jehovah brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them. 3 Jehovah hath done great things for us, `Whereof' we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah, As the streams in the South. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves `with him'. Psalm 127 A Song of Ascents; of Solomon. Chapter 127 1 Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; `For' so he giveth unto his beloved sleep. 3 Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; `And' the fruit of the womb is `his' reward. 4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 128 A Song of Ascents. Chapter 128 1 Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed That feareth Jehovah. 5 Jehovah bless thee out of Zion: And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, see thou thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel. Psalm 129 A Song of Ascents. Chapter 129 1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up, Let Israel now say, 2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up: Yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed upon my back; They made long their furrows. 4 Jehovah is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. 5 Let them be put to shame and turned backward, All they that hate Zion. 6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth before it groweth up; 7 Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. 8 Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; We bless you in the name of Jehovah. Psalm 130 A Song of Ascents. Chapter 130 1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah. 2 Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3 If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for Jehovah, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope. 6 My soul `waiteth' for the Lord More than watchmen `wait' for the morning; `Yea, more than' watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel From all his iniquities. Psalm 131 A Song of Ascents; of David. Chapter 131 1 Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me. 2 Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child with his mother, Like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 132 A Song of Ascents.