Paul had dual citizenship, a citizen of the Jewish nation of Israel and also a citizen of the Roman Empire. When facing “false” serious charges by the Jewish chief priests and leaders, Paul defended himself before Festus, the Roman official in charge of Jerusalem (Jerusalem was under Roman governmental control). While Paul faced false charges, Festus faced a political decision to either show favor to the chief priests and leaders and perhaps make his job easier in ruling them, or stand up for Paul and justice. Politics won, “Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?’” (Acts 25:9)
Paul knew that going to Jerusalem was the worst decision. So he again declared his innocence and flipped the situation by declaring, “I appeal to Caesar!” (Acts 25:11b). He claimed his Roman citizenship and the right to a trial there. Festus was led to comply.
In reality, Paul had triple citizenship. He was also a citizen of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and God had been telling him that he must eventually go to Rome. Has God ever opened a door for you in an unusual way?
Every Christian has multiple citizenship. That is, a citizen of their earthly country or countries, and also a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Every decision demands that we choose which citizenship we will appeal to, which one will we honor. The Bible urges us to sidestep anxiousness and worry (earthly citizenship) and instead appeal to prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to God (Kingdom citizenship). The quality of our lives, our family, and even community are affected by which citizenship we step into at any moment.
It’s not always easy to pull out our Kingdom passport when under stress. Yet, we know that it will produce the best results, sooner or later—and it is all in our hands. We have that power; we are not simply victims of circumstances. Paul did not know what would happen to him in Rome, yet he knew it was God’s will. The woman with an issue of blood did not know how she would get to Jesus or how he would react. Yet, something burning within her knew that healing existed in getting close to Jesus (Kingdom citizenship). So, like Paul, she pressed on when others would have given up (earthly citizenship). She was healed and Jesus called her “Daughter” because her faith made her a daughter of Jesus’ Kingdom (Luke 8:48).
Multitudes of biblical people had to choose a citizenship—and we can read the results of those choices. It does not matter where you come from, who you come from, or what life challenges (good or bad) are knocking at your door, the principle is the same: Make a Kingdom citizenship decision. Even if God has not specifically told you the way to go, you still have a clue because God’s will in the Bible. Lean into the Word. Skip worry as much as possible. Skip the approval of others. Skip self-condemnation. Skip pride. Skip everything that does not look like Jesus, and then skip on down the road repeating to yourself over and over, “I appeal to Jesus! I appeal to Jesus!” And like Jesus did for Paul and that woman, he will show up in his own way and time. He’s waiting for your appeal.
God bless you!
Pastor Janice Fareed-Hardy
