In the fall of 1997, I had my first closeup look at royalty. Zeeland, Michigan, the small Dutch town where I was born, was celebrating its 150th anniversary, and Princess Margriet and her husband honored the city with an official visit from the Netherlands.

Her Highness looked regal in her crisp red suit as she walked behind the wooden-shoed Klompen dancers and smiled and waved to the crowd. She moved with a quiet gracefulness and dignity. But without her entourage and a police escort, she could have passed for just another Zeelander blending into the crowd.

Believers in Jesus Christ are also royalty. We have been spiritually reborn into the family of the King of the universe. Peter called us a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9). John declared that through Christ's sacrifice on the cross we are "kings and priests to His God and Father" (Rev. 1:6).

We may look like everyone else, but as Christians our speech and our actions should cause others to ask, "What's different about her, about him?" We're royalty, of course! What a privilege to be members of God's royal family. What a responsibility! Every day we represent One who is the "ruler over the kings of the earth" (Rev. 1:5). Let's make sure our conduct shows it.  — Dennis J. De Haan