Please turn with me this morning to Philippians chapter 3. Philippians 3. This morning we consider the last verses of that chapter. And I believe it would be worth our while to read the chapter again, to read the context as well of these verses. So Philippians chapter 3. We'll consider particularly verses 15 through 21 of this chapter. And I would also have you turn in the back of the Psalter hymnal. I didn't put it in the bulletin, but turn again to Lord's Day 44. We finished the Tenth Commandment a couple of weeks ago. And I believe what Paul has to say to us here at the last part of Philippians fits as well with the last two questions and answers that wrap up our consideration of the Ten Commandments, how we are to show our thankfulness to God through obedience to His commandments, leading then into the greatest exercise of thankfulness to God, which is prayer. Let's confess these answers together. 1.14 and 1.15. They are worthwhile bringing to our attention once again. 1.14 asks, But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly? No. In this life, even the holiness have only a small beginning of this obedience. Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God's commandments. No one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly. Why, then, does God want them preached so pointedly? First, so that the longer we live, the more we may come to know our sinfulness and the more eagerly look to Christ for forgiveness of sins and righteousness. Second, so that while praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may never stop striving to be renewed more and more after God's image until after this life we reach our goal, perfection. Philippians chapter 3 as we give our attention to God's most holy word. Finally, my brothers, 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. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh, For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh, though I myself have reason for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more. Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard to the law of Pharisee, As for zeal, persecuting the church. As for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 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 and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. And then our text. All of us 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, only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For as I have often told you before, and now say again, even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their God is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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. Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, do as I say, not as I do. Now, I must confess that I find myself saying that, or at least thinking that, especially as I'm teaching my daughters how to drive. they've recently read the book. And I want them to abide by the letter of the law that I might not be so faithful abiding by. And therefore, I say, do as I say, or I think, do as I say, not as I do. And unfortunately, I must also confess that this is true in other areas of my life as well. I know what to do often. I know what it is that I am to teach my children. But my conduct, sadly, is often different. Now Jesus said something very similar to this in Matthew chapter 23 with regard to the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. He said they sit in Moses' seat so you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do for they do not practice what they preach. You see, imitation, imitating someone, following the example of someone else can be a dangerous thing. It depends on who's being imitated. It depends on what is being imitated. Sometimes young boys and girls want to imitate their older brothers and sisters, and sometimes parents aren't so crazy about that. But it can also be profitable, can't it? Especially if we follow good examples. As the saying goes, some things are better caught than taught. Sometimes it's easier to learn by watching, by observing, than simply by hearing and by listening. Well, Paul, after laying his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and after laying his desire for the Lord Jesus Christ wide open before the Philippian believers, he is able to say with full confidence, do as I say and as I do. Both. The Philippian believers as well as all believers are to be imitating Paul's pattern of heavenly citizenship. First of all, because of who you are. And secondly, because of what you will become. We are to imitate Paul's pattern of heavenly citizenship, first of all, because of who you are in Christ. Now, we need to understand that Paul's words here are not words of arrogance on his part, but it's humble confidence on his part. And that's because of his own pattern. That is the pattern that he followed. In 1 Corinthians 11, verse 1, he says, follow my example. Why? As I follow the example of Christ. Paul would never have had anybody follow his example, an example of his own making, an example of his own thinking, of his own design. But he was able to say, follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. So that he could say with confidence, if you follow me, then in that sense you follow Christ. you see paul had humble confidence of who he was in christ and of the holy spirit's work in him he had confidence that by the grace of god he was on the right path and he was now speaking to those who themselves were in christ believers he makes that clear in chapter one it began to all the saints in christ jesus at philippi and he speaks of your partnership in the gospel and he says all of you share in God's grace with me. He is talking to those who are in Christ, and in Christ, he says, they are citizens of heaven, but our citizenship is in heaven. Now, citizenship, boys and girls, you know I trust even that citizenship is important in a country, in a church, as it were, in a school community. Our citizenship is important. And citizenship Citizenship, you know, we know comes with certain rights and privileges as well as responsibilities. And we see the importance of citizenship, especially in our day as in our own nation. We recognize the conflict going on with regard to immigration and illegal aliens. Now, Philippi, we know, was located in Macedonia, not in Rome, not in Italy, in Macedonia. But Philippi was a Roman colony. It was under the authority of Rome, owned, as it were, by Rome. And therefore, the citizens of Philippi were Roman citizens. And that was a big deal because Rome, we know, was a superpower. And therefore, the citizens, the believers as well in Philippi, with their Roman citizenship, they had all the protection and rights of Roman citizenship. Now, we are citizens of Escondido or the surrounding communities, San Diego County, California, United States of America. That's our physical citizenship. But for believers in Jesus Christ, our true homeland, our eternal citizenship, where our name is recorded, is in heaven. We are citizens of heaven, beloved, by new birth. In this life, we know that you either gain citizenship by physical birth. We know that even those who are born within the borders of our country, even if their parents are not citizens, Those who are born within the borders of our country are citizens of the United States. We gain our citizenship either by physical birth or by coming to this country, going through the process, paying the fee, and being declared to be a citizen. But heavenly citizenship is strictly by new birth. Being regenerated by the Holy Spirit for the sake of the blood of Jesus. Being brought to true faith in Him. And the result of that, as Paul says in Ephesians 2, verse 6, is that God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. That's where we are, as it were. That's where our identity is recorded. Our names are recorded. Believers' names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life. There is a record, just as the United States has a record of us. There is a record of believers, of the believer's heavenly citizenship in heaven. We are citizens of heaven. by new birth. And that also comes then with a new allegiance. We are no longer in the kingdom of Satan. We are no longer bound by sin, but we are in the kingdom of God. We have a new King. Jesus Christ, our Lord. God Himself is our Master, the Lord of our life, of our thoughts, of our words, of our actions. And because we have a new King, beloved, we are under a new law. We have been graciously given new desires. for the law of God and to be obedient to Him. Oh, as the Catechism says, it's only a small beginning. Even the holiest of men, even the Apostle Paul, had only a small beginning of this obedience. But it's there by the grace of God. We are no longer slaves of sin, but servants of righteousness whose lives are ordered or are to be ordered according to the law of God. And that citizenship then comes with new rights and privileges And those privileges include, beloved, the audience. An audience with the King Himself. An audience with God. The very One before whom we take our prayers. The very One who promises to hear and answer our prayers according to our needs. And we enjoy the privilege of His care and His protection who said He will never leave us or forsake us, who numbers the very hairs of our heads. Complete protection. Ours is the privilege of His peace that passes all understanding, even when we can't understand it. In this life, whatever we might endure, God's peace is there. We enjoy the privilege of being convicted of our sin. Really? You say, what? That's a blessing, you see. Being convicted of our sin, beloved, because being convicted of our sin, examining ourselves to see if we have that God sorrow that works repentance unto salvation. That's a blessing from our God because it points to the fact that one is evidence of being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. And along with that comes the privilege of the assurance of God's pardoning grace, the joy of that. And we have the right to be called sons and daughters of the Most High God. We are guaranteed an eternal home and God blesses us with the privilege of having His Word. Not locked shut, but opened to us by the power of His Holy Spirit. You see, all of that, in a sense, is a snapshot of who believers are in Christ. Outwardly, our citizenship is here, boys and girls. We have social security numbers and we are a part of the population of our communities and we have addresses to which our mail comes. We abide by the laws of the land as long as they honor God's law. but our true citizenship is in heaven. We've been born from above. Our names are in the book of life. We delight in God's law. We have a place that's secure in heaven. Our prayers ascend. Our mail, as it were, goes directly to the king of the kingdom. And we have many loved ones who are already there. Yet, for the time being, we live on this earth. We live on this earth and therefore we are to put all of this heavenly citizenship into practice. Who we are in Christ is to be made clear where we live. Citizenship not only comes with rights and privileges, it also comes with responsibilities. And in Christ, citizens of heaven are living as a colony on earth, a heavenly colony on earth in this place, here in Escondido, and the entire church on this earth. Someone has said with regard to the Philippian believers they were a heavenly people with a heavenly origin, a heavenly citizenship, a heavenly destiny to live heavenly lives in a foreign land telling others of a heavenly Father who offered them salvation through faith in His Son. They were to live not according to the culture in which God had placed them, but according to the culture of heaven. And as a colony of heaven on earth, that heavenly citizenship is to be visible. it is to be distinctive it is to be different than the world around us and as we live as heavenly citizens on this earth we are to recognize do so recognizing the danger that is around us the danger in the world and that danger beloved obviously includes sin it includes arrogance selfishness rottenness hatred for christ and his church it includes the fact that satan is indeed prowling around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And we are to be constantly aware, constantly examining ourselves, to be aware of the sinful danger that surrounds us and tempts us. Paul describes that in verses 18 and 19. We'll talk about that in a moment. But we are to be constantly aware of that danger, constantly fighting against it, not ignoring it, not treating that danger as if it's not real. Or as if it won't touch us. Living as a colony on earth, recognizing the danger of the world, and at the same time, representing Jesus Christ. Representing our King. Living according to the pattern of Paul. He says in verse 17, Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. And Paul has described his pattern, especially throughout chapter 3. Those things that he would have counted in his favor, He says, our garbage, they're nothing. And he doesn't look back any longer. He doesn't look in the past. He only looks forward to press on to what he has in Christ Jesus. And that pattern includes the fact that he wants to know Christ more and more and to know the power of His resurrection, to share in His sufferings, to become like Him in His death. And that pattern also included, as he says in verses 15 and 16, all of us 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, only let us live up to what we have already attained. Now those are fascinating words, you see. Because what Paul is saying is that believers are called to live according to what God has revealed. Believers are called to conform their lives to the knowledge that they have been given of Christ Jesus. So that if we have the privilege and opportunity to witness for Him, we can confidently say as Paul did, do as I say, as I teach you, and also as I do. Imitate my life. Now what's implied in these verses is that Paul says that he implies that some are indeed further along. Some are more mature in their faith than others. Some are still infants. Some are adolescents. Teenagers. Others mature, fully grown. But all true believers have the same foundational truths that we confess together in the Apostles' Creed of God the Father in our creation, God the Son in our redemption, God the Holy Spirit in our sanctification. All true believers understand the same foundational truths that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we might be saved in the name of Jesus. And that we are justified freely only because of His blood and righteousness. You see, beloved, Paul's pattern included the fact that his confidence in life and in death was only in Jesus Christ. His pattern included that he suffered for the sake of the Gospel as Jesus Christ suffered for him. He followed Christ's example. It included that he desired to die more and more to sin, to live more and more in righteous obedience to God, knowing that his hope was only in Christ's righteousness. It included that he lived as a citizen of heaven on earth with his focus on, not being distracted, but focusing on and pressing toward the prize that had been won for him by Jesus Christ. And his pattern included, beloved, that he was ready to die for the glory of heaven. And that's true of soldiers, isn't it? We hear about that even as the war continues to go on around us, that many of our soldiers of the United States are willing to die. Because of their love for this country, to fight for, to defend, and die for their country, it must be the same. Is it the same for you and me? As citizens, soldiers of the kingdom of heaven, are we willing to fight for, defend, and die for our homeland? Paul knew that Jesus Christ himself is God, the only Savior. He knew that the cross of Jesus is the only instrument of salvation. He knew that Christ's righteousness alone is that which gave him peace with God. And all of these things, you see, governed his life and practice on this side of glory. They were all a part of his pattern. And all of that was true for Paul and in the same way, it is true for all believers. And we too are to live in a way that is consistent with what God has revealed to us through the Apostle Paul. To live in a way that is consistent with what we profess to believe about the Lord Jesus Christ. We are called to put our faith into practice, to walk our talk, to practice what we preach. Our conduct as heavenly citizens living here on this earth is to demonstrate that this life is meaningless apart from Jesus Christ, but in Him, this life is transformed. Our conduct is to include having the mind of Christ, loving as He has loved us. Desiring to be obedient as Christ was obedient for me. Sacrificing ourselves selflessly as Christ did for us. You see, beloved, and practically speaking, when we know, living according to what you have attained, according to the knowledge of Christ, when you know then that Jesus Christ, for example, hates adultery and murder and lying and cheating and stealing and name-calling and hitting and gossiping and you fill in the blank. In whatever way, shape, or form, even if it's tucked in our heart, when we know that Jesus Christ hates these things, why wouldn't you fight against them? And at the same time, strive to do what He loves. To die to sin. To live to righteousness. To show His love to others. As a colony of heaven on earth, we are to represent our King well. And to do so in complete opposition to this world and those who represent the prince of darkness. You see, we need to understand that the world will judge heaven and her king by her citizens. And we know that's true, isn't it? The world will judge our church here. Or our schools. Our country. Or other nations are judged by the way their citizens act and react. And the same is true with heaven and our king. The world will judge her by the conduct of her citizens. We are called to imitate Paul's pattern, beloved, because of who you are in Christ and to do so in contrast to who you were. In verses 18 and 19, For as I have often told you before and now say again, even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their God is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Now, we read that and you cannot help but notice I trust that that's the complete opposite of Paul's pattern. And Paul places before us there, before the Philippian believers and us, an example that we are not to follow. Now, it's difficult to identify exactly who it was that Paul was talking about. Many believe that he was talking about those who claim to profess Christ, claim to be Christians, not necessarily in the Philippian church, but those who may pass through from time to time, those who could be observed. But that really they are those, as Jesus says in Matthew 7, show by their works that they do not truly know Him. It might have included the Judaizers. Others say the Epicureans who lived more by satisfying the bodily desires and figured that, well, we're saved. We don't have to worry about the law of God anymore. We can go on sinning that grace might increase. And all that matters is taking care of this body the soul is taken care of. But no matter who it is that Paul is talking about, these verses clearly describe all unbelievers. And there is a clear lesson for you and me, beloved, about whom we are and or are not to have intimate fellowship and contact with. The bottom line, and this is not new to us, but heavenly citizens are to stick with their own. And that's not bad. That's very good. Heavenly citizens are to surround themselves with heavenly citizens because of the distinguishing characteristics of those who do not have heavenly citizenship. They live as enemies of the cross. In a sense, this is the crown of what Paul says here in their description. They live as enemies of the cross. The cross is not a symbol of victory for them. It's foolishness. It's needless. It's meaningless. It has no value for them. And by being enemies of the cross, they reject the only way of redemption and forgiveness that God has provided. And therefore, they reject the Lord Jesus Christ. And this means, though, too, that even if one says that salvation is by Christ, plus, as the Judaizers said, Christ, but I've got to help Him. Or even if one says that Christ is one way, but one of many ways, they are enemies of the cross and therefore enemies of the one true God and their destiny, Paul says, is destruction. That will be the final outcome of being an enemy of the cross. The inevitable enemy. Destruction. Eternal destruction in the depths of hell. And Paul continues describing these characteristics by what we might call the earthly path to this destruction. The next three things. God is their belly. Now, there are many things we could say about all of these things, and we don't have time for that, but very simply, they live for, they worship. Whatever satisfies their temporary bodily desires. It's not just talking about food. It's not what he's saying there about their God is their belly. Indeed, food is included. But clothing, craving attention, sensual desires, Anything earthly. Their God is their belly. They worship those things. That's what they want satisfied the most. That's what they want to satisfy. He says their glory is in their shame. You see, they delight in being glorified. In being noticed. And having the attention on them. But the thing is, they delight in being noticed for their shameful and their ungodly behavior. That's what they enjoy being popular for. And it goes without saying, because their mind is on earthly things. And the idea there is their minds are fixed on, obsessed with earthly things. We could describe them as saying, what can I indulge in next? Their values, their goals are tied not to heavenly things, but to this world, to this earth. Their passion is not the prize, the heavenly glory secured by Christ for His people. But their passion is whatever their eyes can see and they can get their hands on now in this life. That's their passion. And that's the danger, beloved, that is to be avoided by heavenly citizens. That's the danger of those who reject the cross of Jesus. And Paul is teaching us here that the ultimate test of man's belief and his conduct is the cross. What you believe about the cross, what you believe about it will determine your conduct. And if one denies and ignores the cross, that points to the fact that they are an enemy of the cross. If one does not believe that the cross of Jesus Christ is absolutely essential all by itself for salvation, or that they think that it is only a part of salvation, that points to the fact that they are an enemy of the cross. And as well, we need to understand that it is impossible to claim that Jesus Christ died for you, but then to turn around and live after the pattern of this world. It's inconsistent. It's contradictory. It doesn't fit with living according to what you have attained, what God has revealed to you. And those who would live in that way need to remember. They need to hear that God is not, He cannot be mocked. Beloved Paul gloried in the cross. He boasted in nothing but the cross. He lived a crucified life as He suffered for the One who suffered to save Him and make Him a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. And therefore, His pattern of living was a pattern of gratefulness, a pattern of preparation for and anticipation of life. In that eternal heavenly homeland, He lived as if He was already there. I read this quote and it wasn't identified who said it, but this could be said of Paul, of this blessed man, let this praise be given. Heaven was in him before he was in heaven. And that could be said of Paul because by the grace of God, he was confident of what he would become. You and I are called to imitate Paul's pattern of heavenly citizenship because of who we are in Christ, but also because of what you will become in the second place. Not much time left for this. we don't need to say much Paul says but our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there the Lord Jesus Christ 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 pointing to that ultimate glorification the final consummation of all things now Paul knew Paul knew that he was not yet perfect He knew that he was, as the catechism says, that he had only a small beginning of disobedience. Yet, as he was homesick for heaven, as he anticipated the return of Jesus Christ, he also knew, as the catechism says, that he was to seriously strive to live according to all of God's commandments and desire the Holy Spirit's work of renewing him more and more after God's image until after this life he would reach the goal of perfection. And he knew full well the need to faithfully preach God's holy law to the glory of Christ. And so that God's people might strive for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. He had confidence of that as he waited for the day of what he would become when Christ returns. In contrast to the belly God of the world, Paul here identifies the true God, none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. And instead of glorying, he says that instead of glorying in the shameful earthly things, believers anxiously look forward to Christ's coming when the shameful will give way. It will be pushed out of the way, put away to glory. Jesus Christ, 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. He's talking about a complete transformation. Not just from turning a vegetable garden into a flower garden, but more like turning a vegetable garden into a plot of ground with a beautiful building constructed on it. A complete transformation. Something that you and I cannot even begin to totally understand. But a complete transformation from the total humiliation of sin. that we live with now. Physical bodies that are prone to sickness and weakness and death. And that principle of the sin nature dwelling in us, affecting our thoughts and our motives and our desires, to, from that, to a perfect, glorified body. Imagine that. You can't, can you? Think of your infirmities now. Imagine your life without them. and with a completely righteous heart and soul. The closest we can come to imagining this is what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. Imperishable. Immortality. Very simply, beloved, one day we will enjoy that glorification inside and out that makes us fit for, and makes us able to spend eternity in the presence of God. That's the believer's eternal destiny versus the destruction of the enemies of the cross. And that glorification is guaranteed by Christ's resurrection. We will be made like His glorious, His resurrection body. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says that Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. He has conquered death and decay for this body as well. And we are the harvest to follow. And the power that raised Christ from the dead with a glorified body will also raise us. It will only be accomplished by His power, which is sovereign power over all, able to put all things under His control. That power, as Paul says, before whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And that sovereign power, beloved, is for us. It's on our behalf. Paul was able to press on toward the goal of the heavenly prize because he was confident that nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus. And it was the very same power by which Paul could eagerly look forward to Christ's return. That's to be the pattern of heavenly citizenship, beloved, glorying in the cross and in Christ's righteousness. Fighting sin, not indulging in it. Understanding the eternity of heaven versus the temporary nature of earth. Seeing that this life is only a means to the next and knowing, knowing that there is a life to come. But until then, we are a colony of heaven on this earth. We live and work in this world alongside of the enemies of the cross. And beloved, we are to constantly, day by day, be examining our hearts and lives. Examining ourselves to see if we truly live according to the knowledge God has given to us, asking ourselves, how do we do the same things? We do many of the same things the world does, our occupations, shopping, you name it. We share so many things with the world. How do we do the same things as the world, only differently than the world? How do we run a business? How do we vote? How do we play in or spectate at a sporting event? How do we drive on the freeway? How do we walk down the street? How do we do anything as citizens of the kingdom of heaven? That's what we must constantly be asking ourselves and examining ourselves with regard to. And we know it includes having different motives and desires and goals in the world because there is a different king on the throne of our heart. And we recognize that it includes recognizing that this earthly life has one purpose and that is to serve the goal of glory. But our pattern, beloved, is that we are to live as friends of the cross, those to whom the cross of Jesus means everything, understanding there is no satisfaction, there is no forgiveness, there is no hope, there is no heavenly citizenship without the victorious cross of Jesus. The Lord's table is reserved for citizens of the kingdom of heaven, for those who are friends of the cross of Jesus, is for those who rely only on His resurrection power to cleanse them, to mold them and make them after His will. This table is for those who by the grace of God understand that they have a small beginning of disobedience, but they look to and trust the Holy Spirit to keep working in them as He nourishes them and strengthens our faith. It is for those, beloved, who represent their heavenly homeland and eagerly waiting and anticipating the return of the Lord Jesus Christ with a guarantee that we should be like Him. People of God, Christ has set a pattern for us to follow as we look forward to being transformed after the pattern of Christ. This world is not our home. We're just passing through. And therefore, may we not dig our heels in too deep here. May we now try to resemble this world, but instead may we delight to represent here the Savior who is coming again, the Savior whose pattern we are to follow, the Savior who is coming just for us, His believers. Let's pray. O God, our Heavenly Father, we rejoice in the promise of Your Word, Not only for this life, but for the life to come. We thank You for the certainty that we might have of an eternal glory, an eternal life, and the glory of heaven with You. And Father, may we be filled with such joy because of that, that we delight to represent You here on this earth, to live our heavenly citizenship here. No matter what kind of a response that may draw from the world, give us strength, give us a delight. And Father, may you be glorified and praised. May it be too, Father, that others would see us as citizens of heaven and that they too would desire to know what it is that we have in Christ Jesus. And that through that you would bring many to the light of your truth, to the precious gift of salvation. Hear our prayer, O Lord, for Jesus' sake, and in His name alone, Amen.