The Model Citizen
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, [8] and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”
Paul, writing in Titus 2:7–8 esvbible.org
The model citizen.
Obeys the law. Pays taxes. Mows lawn. Votes. Volunteers.
Some do all these things, yet, they’re not very nice people.
Now, how about the model citizen of a different allegiance?
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 3:20)
We who confess to be the followers of Jesus, are, as has been written, resident aliens.
In fact, regardless of where we are planted on the planet, all of us are here in a specific role.
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
So we need to understand what it means to serve Jesus in this role. Ambassadors are required to be circumspect, to try to avoid giving offense, and, at all times, to faithfully demonstrate the values, goals and interests of the leader they represent.
We are, without equivocation or duplicity, to show to all around us the integrity of our teaching, validated by our good works, all being expressed and done with dignity and respect.
As Christians we cannot have a public side and a private side that are at variance with one another. That would rightly leave us open to the charge of hypocrisy, giving the world something evil to say about us, which always compromises the message of the gospel.
Jesus never said it’d be easy, since our ambassadorship depends for its effectiveness, in every way, on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
We’re, none of us, up to this on our own.
How then should we live as model citizens of the kingdom of God?
1. We are to focus on serving the Lord above all else.
God’s people have always failed as model citizens when they focus on other gods and idols.
Money. Education. Popularity. Family. Power. Success. Pleasure. Influence. Self.
Eventually these are very sorry gods indeed. We may serve them, but ultimately they disappoint us and they fail us.
Jesus says that none of these, some of them very good things in themselves, are never to become so important in our lives that they cause us to take our eyes off the Lord.
None of them are to dictate and decide any of our choices before the truth of the Word of God.
The psalmist tells us:
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” (Psalm 119:15)
2. We are to faithfully know and obey the whole Bible.
As Christians we are to take hold of every opportunity to read, study and meditate on the Word of God.
Our churches must endeavour, in some cases even try harder, to offer the saints as many opportunities as possible for hearing and learning the Scriptures, through expository preaching, exegetical teaching and engaging Bible study.
This good word of Paul to Timothy ought to encourage all of us. This verse is the formative text for the children’s ministry known as AWANA. It also applies to adults!
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
3. We are to forgive as God in Christ forgives.
We live in a radically distorted culture, in which governments and other bodies display their virtue signalling by apologizing for all kinds of things done by our ancestors and predecessors.
We can only apologize for the things we have done wrong, for our own sins.
Our culture, for all of its facile efforts at public apologies, is nevertheless an unforgiving mess.
The current state of politics and racial tensions provide ample evidence that we are better at holding and nursing grudges than we are at forgiving one another.
And yet, what is one of the integral phrases of what is likely the best known prayer among Christians, and even many non-Christians?
“‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’” (Matthew 6:12)
After teaching this prayer to His followers Jesus goes on to say this:
“‘For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, [15] but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’” (Matthew 6:14–15)
As model citizens of the kingdom of God we are to constantly and consistently model the giving and receiving of forgiveness.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
4. We are to forge honest and edifying relationships.
Too many, way too many, relationships, both inside and outside of the church, are shallow, self-serving and untrustworthy.
We are not to be those kind of people.
If people cannot trust who we are, then they are not going to trust what we say.
All of our good works are, as Paul writes, worth nothing unless we also share the gospel, the good news of forgiveness, reconciliation, salvation and eternal life in Jesus. This is worth reading again, and sharing with those who need to hear the gospel:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8–10)
The image of a forge is appropriate for making solid relationships. A forge means heat, hammering and hard work. The author of Proverbs offers this observation:
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
(Proverbs 27:17)
Building solid relationships is often hard work, taking our time and energy, and also, rightly, taking us out of ourselves and our obsession with self.
All of us are here on assignment, temporarily.
Are we making the most productive, the most effective use of our time. our gifts, and our treasure?
The model citizen.
Who can find?
Soli Deo gloria!
