Living like Royalty
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Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. (Philippians 1:27, NLT).
Monarchy in any shape or form has always intrigued me. I love the ceremonies, the castles, the titles and their way of life. In fact anything that even hints of royalty interests me.
As Christians, we also became royalty when we became born again. At our conversion we exchanged this world’s principles for heaven’s principles. We became members of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).
This term “royal priesthood” is very intriguing because it combines the earthly (royal) with the spiritual (priesthood).
As Christians, we’re called to carry out this godly mandate in our everyday lives, like the above scripture says.
It’s our conduct, the “living it” out part, that’ll make people see that we are in fact “people of the palace” and “children of the King of kings.”
So how do we “conduct ourselves”?
It’s in the way we consistently live out this mandate that’s important.
At no point is a member of the Monarchy permitted to behave in a way that’s unbecoming of their position. If they step out of line, they have to answer to the king or the queen.
The same applies to us.
We are God’s royal representatives here on this earth. As born again believers, we are an amalgamation of the two. We exercise our kingly authority when it comes to seeing God’s kingdom done, and we direct people towards God by the way we live for God in this world.
When we look at it this way, we can see just what an awesome responsibility we’ve been given, in bearing the name of Christ.
So do we avoid bringing shame on the Name of Jesus?
Listen to what Peter writes: “So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy” (1 Peter 1: 14-15, NLT).
If you have brought shame on the Name – it is not too late. All you need to do is ask for forgiveness, repent of your sins and ask God to help you in living, once again, the way God wants you to.
Why not do that today?
By Sean Cameron Gunn
Lay Preaching and Prayer Ministry