"Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe..." (Heb. 12:28 ASV)

"While serving as a missionary in Laos, I discovered an illustration of the kingdom of God. Before the colonialists imposed national boundaries, the kings of Laos and Vietnam reached an agreement on taxation in the border areas. Those who ate short-grain rice built their houses on stilts, and decorated them with Indian-style serpents were considered Laotians. On the other hand, those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground, and decorated them with Chinese-style dragons were considered Vietnamese. The exact location of a person's home wasn't what determined his or her nationality; instead, each person belonged to the kingdom whose cultural values he or she exhibited." (By John Hess-Yoder)

The citizens of God's kingdom are likewise distinguished by standards and values. They do not live according to the world's standards, but according to the regulations and values of the heavenly kingdom.