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1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! (Phillippians 3:17-4:1 NIV)
The word citizenship confused me when it showed up in my report card. Finally it was explained to me that was my grade for behaving or misbehaving. I misbehave a lot, but not in class! My citizenship grade was always an E for Excellent. On the playground or with my siblings, thank God there was no grade, but it might have been a solid U all the time. U standing for Unsatisfactory. Then one day, when we were leaving the Valley and we stopped at the Border Patrol Checkpoint, the agent asked me, "What is your citizenship?" It took me a full two seconds for me to 1) Not laugh, 2) Decide if was a question of my behavior or my citizenship in a nation. I smiled and said, "U.S. Citizen." He waved us through.
Paul wants all believers to be clear on several things; self-examination as this season of Lent calls for: Are we truly joyful in our faith in Jesus? Are we truly careful about who we are and how we are presenting ourselves and our faith? Paul knew that these believers in Philippi were facing the challenges of the Jews, who believed Christians had to first be Jews, then could be Christians; Paul took the opposite view, even though he was thoroughly through birth, upbringing, education and career, a Jew, but he did not truly come to life until he became a Christian. Paul knew through his encounter and time with Jesus during the three days of blindness and prayer, that he must be a spiritual person and through that he received the confidence he needed as a believer and as an apostle entrusted with converting the world for Jesus. He shares a biographical snapshot of his life, yet when compared to what he gained in knowing Jesus, it is both "loss" and "garbage," when he gained Christ. What a testimony and what faith!
His desire is to know Christ better each and every day. He speaks of knowing Jesus' power of resurrection and even to participate in Jesus' suffering, and ultimately to know his own resurrection at the time of his death. For now, he said, it is press on time; pressing ever onward and upward. The Apostle urges the believers in Philippi to imitate him in his work and also on those who live in the right way. He honestly says that there are those who are true enemies of Christ, who place their faith in their own stomach which they saw as a god, and whose glory is in their shame; clearly they are citizens of earth and not heaven. Paul then says the true believers are those who recognize they are citizens of heaven, who are eagerly awaiting Jesus Christ.
Lent reminds us to strip away the things that keep us focused on the temporary and fix our eyes on Jesus. It is a season to realign our desires with His, to seek transformation, and to remember that our true home is not here. Even in the struggles of this life, we have an unshakable hope—Jesus will return, and He will transform us completely.
Paul encourages us to stand firm in the Lord. This means remaining faithful in prayer, resisting the temptations that pull us away from God, and living as reflections of Christ’s love. As we continue through Lent, may we remember that we are not defined by this world, but by the Savior who calls us His own.
PRAYER: Loving God, thank You for calling us to be citizens of Your kingdom. In this season of Lent, help us to let go of distractions and desires that pull us away from You. Transform our hearts and minds so that we may seek You above all else. Give us the strength to stand firm, to follow Christ’s example, and to trust in the hope of His return. May our lives reflect Your love and truth each day. In Jesus’ strong name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Take time today to reflect on where your focus has been. Are there distractions keeping you from fully embracing your identity in Christ? Consider fasting from something that shifts your attention away from Him—whether it’s a habit, a mindset, or an earthly pursuit. Use this Lenten season to realign your heart with the hope and joy of your true citizenship in heaven.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
