In what ways can we actively "seek the city" in our daily lives? The Verse in Focus “For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are seeking the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14) Remembering Our Pilgrim Status • View every possession, title, and comfort as temporary (1 Peter 2:11) • Hold plans loosely, allowing God’s purposes to override personal agendas (James 4:13-15) • Cultivate gratitude for earthly blessings without rooting identity in them (1 Timothy 6:17) Setting Our Minds on Things Above • Begin each day by reading or quoting passages that lift your perspective to heaven—Colossians 3:1-4; Philippians 3:20 • Pause during routine tasks to whisper, “This is not my final home” • Memorize Revelation 21:2 to keep the vision of the New Jerusalem alive Investing in Eternal Relationships • Share the gospel whenever God opens a door (2 Corinthians 5:20) • Disciple younger believers; time spent multiplying faith is never wasted (2 Timothy 2:2) • Choose forgiveness quickly, knowing brothers and sisters will be your neighbors forever (Ephesians 4:32) Carrying Kingdom Values into Daily Choices • Make financial decisions as though treasury rooms in heaven are real—because they are (Matthew 6:19-21) • Prioritize integrity at work, remembering your ultimate Employer (Colossians 3:23-24) • Filter entertainment by asking, “Would this fit the culture of the coming city?” Serving the City Around Us While We Seek the One to Come • Show tangible love—hospitality, meals, presence—to neighbors (Hebrews 13:1-2) • Advocate for justice and mercy; the heavenly city is marked by righteousness (Micah 6:8) • Engage civic responsibilities with a pilgrim heart: voting, volunteering, praying for leaders (Jeremiah 29:7) Living in Worship and Sacrifice • Offer “the sacrifice of praise continually” (Hebrews 13:15) during commutes, chores, and conversations • Give generously; every dollar surrendered is seed in eternal soil (Hebrews 13:16; 1 Timothy 6:18-19) • Fast periodically to remind the body of its secondary place (Matthew 6:16-18) Keeping the Hope Tangible • Talk about heaven naturally with family and friends; let it flavor ordinary dialogue • Celebrate communion thoughtfully, rehearsing Christ’s promise of the wedding feast to come (Luke 22:18) • When facing grief, anchor comfort in the certainty of the better city (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) Living this way turns every ordinary moment into an active seeking of the city God is preparing—a life that declares, even now, “We are citizens of the one that is to come.” |
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