Philippians 3:20 (ESV)
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
DEVOTIONAL
The Apostle Paul writes these words not as a poetic sentiment or religious slogan, but as a Spirit-breathed declaration of identity for those who are united to Christ. In a world filled with competing allegiances—national, cultural, familial—Paul lifts our eyes to the truest and most enduring reality: we belong to another kingdom. If you are in Christ, your primary identity is not Roman or American, not rich or poor, not young or old—but heavenly.
This heavenly citizenship is not a metaphor; it is a fact purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, we who were strangers and aliens, hostile in mind and deed (Colossians 1:21), have been reconciled to God and adopted as sons and daughters. We are no longer merely residents of earth—we are pilgrims, sojourners on our way to a better country, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:16).
What does this mean practically? First, it reorients our hopes. Paul reminds us that “from [heaven] we await a Savior.” This present world, with all its injustice, heartache, and decay, is not our final home. We do not await the rise of a better political system, a flawless economy, or even our personal comfort. We await a Savior. Christ, who came once to bear sin, will come again to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:28). This means we live in a posture of expectation, watching not the stock market, nor the news cycle, but the skies.
Second, heavenly citizenship transforms our conduct. Paul’s immediate context in Philippians 3 warns of those who walk as “enemies of the cross of Christ,” whose “god is their belly” and whose “minds are set on earthly things” (vv. 18–19). The contrast could not be sharper. As citizens of heaven, we are called to live now in light of where we’re headed—marked by holiness, humility, and hope. This doesn’t mean disengaging from the world, but living in it as ambassadors—bearing witness to the values and King of the kingdom we belong to.
Lastly, heavenly citizenship anchors our identity. In an age of constant redefinition—where people are grasping for identity in sexuality, politics, race, and career—how freeing it is to know that who we are is fixed in Christ. We are not defined by our past, our failures, or our earthly affiliations, but by our union with Jesus. That identity can never be shaken, for it is rooted in heaven itself.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
We praise You as our risen and returning King. Thank You for purchasing our citizenship in heaven through Your perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection. In a world filled with confusion and shifting loyalties, ground our hearts in the unshakable reality of belonging to You.
Teach us to live as faithful citizens of Your kingdom—longing for Your return, walking in holiness, and bearing witness to Your gospel. Strengthen us to set our minds on things above, not on things that are passing away. And when we grow weary, remind us that our true home is with You, and You are coming soon.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria.