“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
(Philippians 3:20, ESV)
(Philippians 3:20, ESV)
Distraction. It is a tactic used to keep people focused on something that doesn’t matter while something else more nefarious is done. It is a manipulative technique meant to hide the person’s motives, plans, and endgame. Distraction involves an intent to deceive another purposefully. Distraction, being deception, is a tactic often used by Satan and evil forces. It is also commonly used by those who have something to hide or intend to do harm.
Sadly, there is a common distraction that has been going on throughout the world by liberal governments and entities. It involves citizenship. It involves illegal immigration. The motive is to flood a country with illegal immigrants who will then be encouraged to vote with liberal political parties in exchange. It also carries with it the added benefit of providing cheap/disposable labor sources for the country. In essence, liberal political groups throughout the world want to manipulate the illegal immigrants into voting for liberals, working for the elites as cheap labor, and then will be exiled when and if they don’t follow through. Using illegal immigration and illegal immigrants in such a fashion is inherently ungodly. However, liberals often use this method while persuading followers it is the “righteous” or “loving” course. They accuse conservatives and those against the practice of promoting illegal immigration as tyrants, fascists, Nazis, and unloving people. They manipulate Christians into feeling wrong or guilty by calling them unloving or unfaithful or unbiblical. It is part of their distraction.
You see, while getting everyone to focus on the issue of illegal immigration, people are not focusing on a bad economy, poor governmental leadership, rising inflation, Jeffrey Epstein, child sex trafficking, rising prices, the taking of legal immigrant jobs by illegal immigrant jobs (cheap labor), and more. The hope of any group using an issue such as illegal immigration for a distraction is that you won’t notice the erosion of your rights or economy or living standard while you focus on fighting over the rights of illegal immigrants.
I have heard Christians say that they hate those who disagree with them on this issue of illegal immigration. I have seen people call forth all kinds of biblical arguments about this issue, especially those about how to treat the traveler or foreigner. They have quoted Jesus as saying, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” (Matthew 25:35, ESV). Yet, they ignore the warnings against allowing strangers to be taken in and given a place who will cause dissention and a loss of faith (like Solomon’s foreign wives did to him; Nehemiah 13:26). The prophet Ezekiel was highly critical of foreigners who brought foreign gods into Israel, even saying they should be forbidden from entering the temple (Ezekiel 44:9). Foreigners or non-Israelites were denied normal citizenship status in Israel and were seen as dangerous by many prophets such as Jeremiah, Obadiah, Isaiah, Ezra, and others. In New Testament times, foreigners who believed in our God were called God-lovers but not Jews or Israelites.
The fact is that people today quote the Bible in order to justify their actions without realizing they are taking part in the distraction. They focus all their attention and energy on divisive issues and taking sides over issues like immigration without realizing this is all a part of the manipulative distraction taking place. You see, illegal immigration isn’t “the issue”. Are you a citizen of the United States or France or the UK or Australia or another country is a worldly issue. The main issue of life is, “Are you a citizen of Heaven?”
Look at today’s scripture from Philippians 3. Paul, who wrote this scripture, was a “citizen” of Rome in his secular life. However, what mattered to Paul most was that he had “citizenship in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Paul did not get distracted by those who were of different nations. In fact, he would baptize anyone who accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. For Paul, citizenship in heaven was of ultimate importance. Nothing could distract him from sharing that gospel message.
Politicians, social media, and ideologues love to get people all riled up about a topic, an issue, a stand. THEY PUSH ONE AGENDA AFTER ANOTHER TO KEEP YOU DISTRACTED FROM YOUR CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN. They get you all fired up about their pet topic or issue so to distract you from their real goal… to use that topic or issue to motivate you to perpetuate their agenda. Their worldly goal is not to help people get to heaven or do what is righteous. Their goal is power. Their favorite method is deception by distraction.
The Bible is clear that deception is a favorite tactic of Satan and evil powers (2 John 7, Revelation 12:9) . In fact, 2 Corinthians 11:3 teaches that the serpent (Satan) used deception to manipulate Eve into committing the first sin. Revelation 12:8 makes clear that Satan’s main intent is to deceive the nations. Satan even infiltrated the New Testament church with “deceivers” who tried to co-opt the gospel (Titus 1:10, among others). The book of Revelation is clear that evil powers and people will use Satan’s favorite tactic, deception, as a tactic to distract the faithful.
Your citizenship in heaven is what matters.
Don’t get caught up in the hype by Satan and evil deceivers. Be careful that you don’t let yourself get distracted by a political issue or ideology or worldly cause. You can get so consumed in fighting worldly issues that you lose focus on your Lord and Savior… and your citizenship in heaven.
Issues and ideologies of the world cause divisions and dissensions. Galatians 5:20 and 1 Timothy 6:4 see these as “works of the flesh” and “ungodliness”. It’s your citizenship in heaven that matters the most. I see all too many Christians trying to decide who is going to heaven or who is sinning based on the most recent social issue or distraction. Wouldn’t it be better if you kept your focus on Jesus than on the hyped distractions of evil forces? If you keep your focus on Jesus, the issues will sort themselves out!
Are there any distractions sucking the life out of your joy or faith? Maybe its time you shut out social media and network news and ignored all the political maneuverings to focus on Jesus and His gospel message….
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Blessed Lord, my God! I humbly come before you as a person who may be swayed by worldly things. My heart may be in the right place but my emotions can get all tangled up in "what-ifs"! I let worry and fear manipulate my heart. I let worldly issues cloud my judgment. It is all too easy to lose focus on You!
Cleanse my thoughts. Point out any worldly distractions. Help me to see Your truth, not the lies of the world! Give me a heart that will reach out in love. Help me to forgive others, even as I need that forgiveness. Grant me your Holy Spirit, that I may be able to see clearly those things that are most valued.
I pray especially for those who are consumed by worldly endeavors. They have been deceived. Their focus is so sharp on worldly things that they have lost sight of You! Keep my focus on you, Lord. If I stray, bring me back to the straight and narrow.
I pray for those who have been lied to and deceived. I pray they find out the truth before they lose hope. I pray they turn to you. In so many ways, our world is so lost and focused on the temporal. Show us the importance of the eternal!
I pray for these people today: _________________________ . I pray for your healing touch to reach ________________________ . I long for these people to move closer to you today: ____________________________ .
I love you, Heavenly Father. In the name of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I look to the future. I hope in the Spirit. I rest in Your arms. Amen. Amen.
Sadly, there is a common distraction that has been going on throughout the world by liberal governments and entities. It involves citizenship. It involves illegal immigration. The motive is to flood a country with illegal immigrants who will then be encouraged to vote with liberal political parties in exchange. It also carries with it the added benefit of providing cheap/disposable labor sources for the country. In essence, liberal political groups throughout the world want to manipulate the illegal immigrants into voting for liberals, working for the elites as cheap labor, and then will be exiled when and if they don’t follow through. Using illegal immigration and illegal immigrants in such a fashion is inherently ungodly. However, liberals often use this method while persuading followers it is the “righteous” or “loving” course. They accuse conservatives and those against the practice of promoting illegal immigration as tyrants, fascists, Nazis, and unloving people. They manipulate Christians into feeling wrong or guilty by calling them unloving or unfaithful or unbiblical. It is part of their distraction.
You see, while getting everyone to focus on the issue of illegal immigration, people are not focusing on a bad economy, poor governmental leadership, rising inflation, Jeffrey Epstein, child sex trafficking, rising prices, the taking of legal immigrant jobs by illegal immigrant jobs (cheap labor), and more. The hope of any group using an issue such as illegal immigration for a distraction is that you won’t notice the erosion of your rights or economy or living standard while you focus on fighting over the rights of illegal immigrants.
I have heard Christians say that they hate those who disagree with them on this issue of illegal immigration. I have seen people call forth all kinds of biblical arguments about this issue, especially those about how to treat the traveler or foreigner. They have quoted Jesus as saying, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” (Matthew 25:35, ESV). Yet, they ignore the warnings against allowing strangers to be taken in and given a place who will cause dissention and a loss of faith (like Solomon’s foreign wives did to him; Nehemiah 13:26). The prophet Ezekiel was highly critical of foreigners who brought foreign gods into Israel, even saying they should be forbidden from entering the temple (Ezekiel 44:9). Foreigners or non-Israelites were denied normal citizenship status in Israel and were seen as dangerous by many prophets such as Jeremiah, Obadiah, Isaiah, Ezra, and others. In New Testament times, foreigners who believed in our God were called God-lovers but not Jews or Israelites.
The fact is that people today quote the Bible in order to justify their actions without realizing they are taking part in the distraction. They focus all their attention and energy on divisive issues and taking sides over issues like immigration without realizing this is all a part of the manipulative distraction taking place. You see, illegal immigration isn’t “the issue”. Are you a citizen of the United States or France or the UK or Australia or another country is a worldly issue. The main issue of life is, “Are you a citizen of Heaven?”
Look at today’s scripture from Philippians 3. Paul, who wrote this scripture, was a “citizen” of Rome in his secular life. However, what mattered to Paul most was that he had “citizenship in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Paul did not get distracted by those who were of different nations. In fact, he would baptize anyone who accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. For Paul, citizenship in heaven was of ultimate importance. Nothing could distract him from sharing that gospel message.
Politicians, social media, and ideologues love to get people all riled up about a topic, an issue, a stand. THEY PUSH ONE AGENDA AFTER ANOTHER TO KEEP YOU DISTRACTED FROM YOUR CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN. They get you all fired up about their pet topic or issue so to distract you from their real goal… to use that topic or issue to motivate you to perpetuate their agenda. Their worldly goal is not to help people get to heaven or do what is righteous. Their goal is power. Their favorite method is deception by distraction.
The Bible is clear that deception is a favorite tactic of Satan and evil powers (2 John 7, Revelation 12:9) . In fact, 2 Corinthians 11:3 teaches that the serpent (Satan) used deception to manipulate Eve into committing the first sin. Revelation 12:8 makes clear that Satan’s main intent is to deceive the nations. Satan even infiltrated the New Testament church with “deceivers” who tried to co-opt the gospel (Titus 1:10, among others). The book of Revelation is clear that evil powers and people will use Satan’s favorite tactic, deception, as a tactic to distract the faithful.
Your citizenship in heaven is what matters.
Don’t get caught up in the hype by Satan and evil deceivers. Be careful that you don’t let yourself get distracted by a political issue or ideology or worldly cause. You can get so consumed in fighting worldly issues that you lose focus on your Lord and Savior… and your citizenship in heaven.
Issues and ideologies of the world cause divisions and dissensions. Galatians 5:20 and 1 Timothy 6:4 see these as “works of the flesh” and “ungodliness”. It’s your citizenship in heaven that matters the most. I see all too many Christians trying to decide who is going to heaven or who is sinning based on the most recent social issue or distraction. Wouldn’t it be better if you kept your focus on Jesus than on the hyped distractions of evil forces? If you keep your focus on Jesus, the issues will sort themselves out!
Are there any distractions sucking the life out of your joy or faith? Maybe its time you shut out social media and network news and ignored all the political maneuverings to focus on Jesus and His gospel message….
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Blessed Lord, my God! I humbly come before you as a person who may be swayed by worldly things. My heart may be in the right place but my emotions can get all tangled up in "what-ifs"! I let worry and fear manipulate my heart. I let worldly issues cloud my judgment. It is all too easy to lose focus on You!
Cleanse my thoughts. Point out any worldly distractions. Help me to see Your truth, not the lies of the world! Give me a heart that will reach out in love. Help me to forgive others, even as I need that forgiveness. Grant me your Holy Spirit, that I may be able to see clearly those things that are most valued.
I pray especially for those who are consumed by worldly endeavors. They have been deceived. Their focus is so sharp on worldly things that they have lost sight of You! Keep my focus on you, Lord. If I stray, bring me back to the straight and narrow.
I pray for those who have been lied to and deceived. I pray they find out the truth before they lose hope. I pray they turn to you. In so many ways, our world is so lost and focused on the temporal. Show us the importance of the eternal!
I pray for these people today: _________________________ . I pray for your healing touch to reach ________________________ . I long for these people to move closer to you today: ____________________________ .
I love you, Heavenly Father. In the name of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I look to the future. I hope in the Spirit. I rest in Your arms. Amen. Amen.