ULTIMATE CITIZENSHIP!

Word from the Center
Written By Dr. Gregory Seltz

WORD FROM THE CENTER: MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2025

Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s reading is Philippians 3:20-21, where the Scripture says,   

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.

 
ULTIMATE CITIZENSHIP!

Citizenship means belonging to a country, nation, or empire. In the Roman empire, it gave protection, rights, privileges. Citizenship mattered in the ancient world and, truth be told, it matters today. It establishes an identity in an impersonal world. In our text, Paul does not denigrate the temporal citizenship that the Philippians had as Roman citizens. But he reminds them of the vast differences between being a citizen of a Rome and being a citizen of heaven by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ for all. To say it simply, one citizenship lasts, while all others eventually fade into the ashbin of history. Paul reminds them, and he reminds us, of the differences between the temporary citizenship we have in this world and the one that lasts forever. The latter comes from our “rebirth” into the family of God by the work of the Holy Spirit (see John 3:3, 5). Paul reminds us all of the enduring identity that comes from being redeemed by Jesus Christ and reconciled to the God who created us for eternal life in the first place.

Citizenship. In the centuries surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus, the temporal nature of the great kingdoms of this world were revealed. Rome would fall, just like Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Persia, and others did before. In fact, all human efforts to establish lasting citizenship, earthly peace, national security, and perfect justice will fail. That’s why the Bible’s message is so powerful. The life and salvation that Jesus offers are able to deliver what He promises. Paul reminds us that one day God will place all things into subjection under Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:27-28). As a result, Jesus has the power to bring everything that He has promised to fruition. There is even the assurance that, because He is resurrected from the grave and lives forever, our bodies will also be transformed to become what we were created and redeemed to be IN HIM (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). That’s powerful stuff!

The truth of that heavenly citizenship should give us pause. And it should give us a mindset about the things of today. Some say, “Christians are so heavenly minded, they are of no earthly good.” Instead, believers who know that our “ultimate” citizenship already resides in heaven have been endowed with wisdom and strength in order to be a blessing to others right now. We are citizens of two kingdoms, one that lasts and one that is temporary. To that end, we need to prioritize things in our lives. Yes, we are to strive for excellence in the “here and now.” Our Lutheran Center here in Washington, D.C., aims to do just that! In fact, all of us are to strive for excellence in our vocations and duties in order to give God glory and to serve others in His Name! That’s the purpose of living boldly as citizens of His eternal Kingdom even amidst the challenges of living “here and now.”  Our culture ought to acknowledge God’s preserving work in our midst even as we offer the Good News of His saving work in Christ alone. In fact, we are privileged especially now to put our temporal liberties to work in service to sharing the eternal liberties of God in Christ for a world that needs them now more than ever.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to sense the opportunity that we have to not only receive the ultimate citizenship that lasts, heaven itself, but to put the power of that citizenship in Your kingdom to work in our service to others. And, through it all, may we always remember that our ultimate citizenship and allegiance belong to You, the only One who gives us life here, now, and forever. AMEN

Other Devotions
ULTIMATE CITIZENSHIP!
ULTIMATE CITIZENSHIP!

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.

WHERE REAL SPLENDOR LIES!
WHERE REAL SPLENDOR LIES!

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil…. 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

OVERWHELMED BY JESUS – GRACE IS LIKE THAT!
OVERWHELMED BY JESUS – GRACE IS LIKE THAT!

32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw  [Jesus’] glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

WHAT OTHERS MEANT FOR EVIL!
WHAT OTHERS MEANT FOR EVIL!

3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Genesis 45:3-7

LOOK WHERE TRUE BLESSINGS ARE TO BE FOUND!
LOOK WHERE TRUE BLESSINGS ARE TO BE FOUND!

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.

Luke 6:20-23

Take Jesus at His Word!
Take Jesus at His Word!

4 When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break…..8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”…10 Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke 5:4-11

GOD’S WORD IS ALWAYS MORE THAN ENOUGH!
GOD’S WORD IS ALWAYS MORE THAN ENOUGH!

The word of the Lord came to me, saying 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 6 “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah 1:4-10

IN CHRIST, THERE’S FREEDOM….FREEDOM THAT LASTS! (Copy)
IN CHRIST, THERE’S FREEDOM….FREEDOM THAT LASTS! (Copy)

We are told to be at peace, for Jesus is Lord. I get that. But don't let it be the kind of peace that serves as a sedative, the kind of peace that puts you to sleep while it is still day, and there is work to do. Christ remains on the throne, but that fact should stir us all the more to do good, and that means, on a day like today, in the political arena. The fact that Jesus is King should not lead us to complacency, but to the boldness that our Lord has our backs, now and into eternity. Knowing that our future is secure, here and now we defend our neighbor, including our littlest neighbor in the womb. Today we defend our right to speak the truth, and not just inside of church walls.

IN CHRIST, THERE’S FREEDOM….FREEDOM THAT LASTS!
IN CHRIST, THERE’S FREEDOM….FREEDOM THAT LASTS!

It was a Sabbath day long ago in Nazareth. Jesus stood up, read a portion of the Bible from Isaiah, and then said that all of these things were now fulfilled IN HIM. Wow, what a synagogue service that must have been! He said that God the Father had sent Him to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, liberty to those who were oppressed, and to announce the year of the Lord’s favor. What’s even more amazing is that He brought all those blessings with Him, along with God’s eternal freedom, riches, and redemption, to all who believe.

Jesus -- He Brings Real Celebration to Life!
Jesus -- He Brings Real Celebration to Life!

I love that title, don’t you? In a nutshell, it says what faith in Jesus is all about. He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), and faith in Him brings His way, truth, and life to our lives as gifts of His grace. Wow! This call to faith is an invitation to receive life, His abundant life, as a gift. That’s what we see in this first miracle of Jesus’ public ministry. Amidst Christ’s purposeful walk to Calvary to become God’s redemptive sacrifice for sin, He stops by at a wedding, a small-town wedding at that.

An “All the Way” Savior -- That’s What We Need!
An “All the Way” Savior -- That’s What We Need!

Substitution. That’s a biblical truth that really hits home for me today. Why? There are times in my life when I realize that my best efforts just aren’t good enough; my heartfelt tries still miss the mark. Something just isn’t right, and it doesn’t seem that I can overcome the problem at all. It’s like I’m trying to swim, but the cold waters are numbing my limbs and preventing me from staying afloat; or the waves of warm waters are pounding me to the ocean’s depths, preventing me from gasping the air I so desperately need. At times like those, one needs help from above, help from outside. What an incredible thing it is when, just at that moment, someone else jumps in and faces the destructive power of the water so that I might come out of it alive and well. Substitution. It matters when your life depends on it.

FOR WHOM ARE YOU LOOKING? THAT QUESTION REALLY MATTERS!
FOR WHOM ARE YOU LOOKING? THAT QUESTION REALLY MATTERS!

The Epiphany Season follows the festival of Christmas because this question needs to be asked: “Do you know who this Jesus really is, who He is for you?” Epiphany’s goal is to make that “manifestly” clear. He is your Lord, your Savior, and your “all in all” for life and salvation.

 

The account of the Wise Men traveling to seek out the young child Jesus is an awesome event! It should cause us to pause today and think about the nature and extent of this child’s work in the world. Jesus was laid in a manger in the small town of Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7); He was Jewish by birth. Yet from the very beginning, His life, death, and resurrection were meant to be a blessing to all people (see Luke 2:32). In today’s lesson one sees that God has ways of drawing people to Jesus from virtually everywhere. He makes His promises, grace, and blessings “findable.” In fact, our God loves to be found (see Isaiah 55:6; 65:1), especially when that means finding His grace and forgiveness in Christ. The point for us today might indeed be to keep looking for and focusing upon what really matters.

SOME THINGS IN LIFE ARE WORTH WAITING FOR!
SOME THINGS IN LIFE ARE WORTH WAITING FOR!

People seem to be more impatient than ever today. We don’t like to wait for much of anything. Life today is often, “Let’s hit the drive through, roll down the window, pick up the order of our choosing, and quickly get on to the next thing.” In a world of UBER EATS and SAME DAY DELIVERY, can there be any good in waiting? Or, can there be anything good worth waiting for?

 

Yes, even amidst the impatience of our age, there are some things worth the wait. We endure waiting in traffic for the joy of getting home to our loved-ones. We’ll wait in line for that “must have” gift for our children each Christmas season. We’ll endure the wait when it’s waiting for that new job offer, or waiting for a good test result from a biopsy, or waiting for that special someone to call because we are so excited just to hear their voice

“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS!
“GOD WITH US” – DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS!

Who could refuse a peace that lasts because God Himself is with us? Well, many do. Why? Because as sinful, rebellious people by nature, we tend to settle for counterfeits, instead of the real thing. When offered an eternal peace that comes from sins forgiven, we would rather settle for peaceful circumstances, or just our temporal “peace of mind,” right? We want the peace that comes with bills paid, relationships intact, body/health doing fine, and purposeful work to do for as long as we’d like to do it. Instead of “God with us” no matter the circumstances, we would rather just have circumstances to our own liking.

Amuse Us Lord, or Call Us to Faith?
Amuse Us Lord, or Call Us to Faith?

Fickle or faithful? Childlike or childish? That is the question in our text. Jesus confronts a crowd one day and he calls them to account. He basically says that they are missing the whole point. The work of God is not merely for one’s amusement. It is rather for our very lives here and now, as well as for our eternal salvation. He uses the example of children “childishly playing” to point out a brutal fact. Children are often not as “childlike” as we would believe, namely, joyfully trusting and obedient. All too often they are “childish,” that is, fickle, inattentive, and even mean. It’s like when we were kids. One group wanted to play a happy game, but others said it was too silly. Others wanted to play something serious, but the first group thought it was too somber or gloomy. Fickle, never satisfied, childish, unhappy, no matter what. Does that sound like someone you know?

A “Time and Place” Kind of Salvation
A “Time and Place” Kind of Salvation

One of the reasons that I love the Bible and its teachings is that the message therein is so different from any other message in this world. There are many religious messages out there in our culture, but the others are all the opinions of sinful people like you and me, trying to get us to follow some path for peace or tranquility; some are even brazen enough to speak about it as “salvation.” Unfortunately, like so much of our human posturing, both philosophically and religiously, they all leave us wanting and dismayed. The same can be said for “faith” in our scientific and economic prowess. Despite all the “progress” and material things in our culture today, our lives are just as broken as ever. And no belief in our superiority or some myth about our unlimited potential can change that even a little.

Blessed Is the One Who Comes in the Name of the Lord, really?
Blessed Is the One Who Comes in the Name of the Lord, really?

19:37-40, where the Bible says,   

As [Jesus] was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Happy New Year? No, Happy NEW WORLD!
Happy New Year? No, Happy NEW WORLD!

Happy “Christ the King” Sunday! On this past Sunday many Christian churches around the world celebrated the reign of Jesus Christ. The last Sunday of the liturgical church year commemorates His rule every year, no matter what is happening at the moment. It reminds us that all things are moving ahead toward the final day when Christ will come again and judge the living and the dead. This coming Sunday Christians who follow a liturgical calendar then enter into a new church year. In so doing, they join all believers in celebrating the fact that Christ’s Kingdom is already now present in this world. His Kingdom is here in the midst of worldly kingdoms that are passing away.

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS
TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

Do you remember the 60’s song by Aaron Lewis, “Tell It Like It Is?” It was smooth and soulful. It invited those in love to “tell it like it is,” and to let “conscience be your guide.” But, truth be told, people as a rule don’t like to “tell it like it is,” and they don’t like to hear the whole truth much either! Why? First, truth often hurts. It reminds us of the reality of the sinfulness of our world and, worse, the deeper reality of our own sinful hearts. The truth shines God’s exposing light on the hidden shadows of our own sinful pride, lust, and selfish desires. Secondly, truth often exposes our incapacity to do what we know we should do. Unfortunately, even when God’s Law guides us and our own consciences rightly also “tell us what to do,” we often don’t do it. Think about the all-too-common failures of our heartfelt New Year’s Eve resolutions!

Straight Talk about What Matters
Straight Talk about What Matters

Brutal facts. We all have some brutal facts to face in life, facts that must be overcome for our own well-being and freedom. Such facts might be the troubles (even the elections) of the day. They might be the obstacles we face in life, whether those are under our control or out of our control. But this Bible verse goes further, telling us about the ultimate “brutal fact” of life. Because of our sin, all people are destined to die once and after that to face judgment. That’s a sobering thought for sure. But that final fact, if faced in Christ, can change your life both then, as well as here and now.

TWO KINDS OF FREEDOM - ONE’S HELPFUL; ONE’S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!
TWO KINDS OF FREEDOM - ONE’S HELPFUL; ONE’S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!

There are two kinds of freedom in the world. One is the earthly freedom that humans can achieve on our own. There are times when it seems like that freedom is secure in our hands. There are other times when it seems like it is always slipping through our fingers or beyond our reach. The other freedom is the kind of freedom that only God can make happen by His work on your behalf. Can you guess which one lasts? Can you guess which one is absolutely indispensable? Right, it’s the one where “the Son makes you free” by His life, death, and resurrection for you.

IN CHRIST, THE BLIND REALLY DO “SEE”
IN CHRIST, THE BLIND REALLY DO “SEE”

I’m always amazed at the healings Jesus performed during His ministry. The deaf would suddenly hear, the blind would see, and the lame would walk. There were even times when dead people were raised again to life! Many of these healings were amazing, seemingly beyond belief. One, of course, was the ultimate healing. That’s the time when Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world, suffered the eternal death we all deserved on the cross, and then rose so that we might have the promise of eternal life with Him as a gift of grace.

WITH GOD, THINGS ARE ALWAYS “IMPOSSIBLY POSSIBLE.”
WITH GOD, THINGS ARE ALWAYS “IMPOSSIBLY POSSIBLE.”


Have you ever been so overwhelmed by something that you finally gave in? In a moment of exasperation, you concluded, “There’s nothing else that I can do; I can’t handle this.” I think we’ve all faced that to some degree. There are issues in life that so overwhelm us it seems as though life itself has become impossible to face. Jesus often shakes us up by pointing out “the impossible” in our lives, while at the same time offering God’s possibilities even then. Amazing! Unclean lepers are healed instantly. People blind from birth suddenly see clearly, both physically and spiritually. Who is this Savior who shows us the depth of our depravity just so that He can demonstrate even more clearly God’s gracious salvation? He’s the Savior who, when it comes to eternal life and salvation, reminds that “with man this is impossible, but not with God; with God all things are possible.”  

DON’T FORGET YOUR VALUABLE!
DON’T FORGET YOUR VALUABLE!

I know, I know, you are worried about my grammar. You think the title should be “Don’t Forget, You’re (You ARE) Valuable,” right? Or, you might think my title should be “Don’t Forget Your ‘Valuables,’” not “Valuable!” Well, I wrote the title as it was meant to be written. For this devotion, the word needs to be VALUABLE. I meant to write that word in the singular because this lesson is talking about the ONE thing in your life that is the key to it all. In our lesson for today, an individual comes up to Jesus and asks the million-dollar question, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” That’s the big question; that’s the one that really matters. You see, the Bible talks about life as precious, purposeful, and eternal. Those three all go together. Jesus wants you to know that your life is eternal; you are not just here today and gone tomorrow. He wants you to know that you are precious to Him, that your life matters to Him.

AN “ALL IN” SAVIOR!
AN “ALL IN” SAVIOR!

When I first came to Washington, D.C., in 2006 for a class in my PhD program, we were privileged to speak with many congressional leaders personally. Bill Hecht, a Lutheran pastor-turned influential lobbyist in Washington, lined up various leaders from the House and the Senate to speak with us about the things that mattered to us as Christians in the politics of the day. I remember visiting with the head of the House Ways and Means Committee at the time. He talked about various legislation saying, “We’re trying to make sure that the Congress has to live by the same rules that they foist on everyone else.” I remember my reaction. I was shocked. I had never thought about the fact that government officials often pass laws that we must follow, while living by another set of rules themselves. Incredible. Health care?

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - FASHIONED FOR SERVICE!
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - FASHIONED FOR SERVICE!

It’s always a challenge for me to fully understand what Jesus means in Matthew 5:13-14 when He says that believers are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” I don’t think we realize how inept, yet vital, we are to being conduits of God’s preserving and saving message for the world. In a world of constant refrigeration because of electricity and easy illumination where the lights come on and remain on with just the flip of a switch, being called “salt” and “light” can seem rather mundane. But being described with those terms wasn’t mundane then or now.

UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE!
UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE!

In today’s lesson, Jesus talks about some “tough going” that was above and beyond anything we can handle. Every man, woman, and child in this world is on the path that leads to judgment due to our common sin and rebellion against our Creator. It’s a path that even the toughest among us can’t avoid, period. But then here comes Jesus the Christ. Though He was without sin, He chooses to take up our path. And when the going gets eternally tough, the Savior of the world gets going!

WHEN THINGS ARE IMPOSSIBLY POSSIBLE!
WHEN THINGS ARE IMPOSSIBLY POSSIBLE!

Our lesson for today comes in the context of another healing event in the ministry of Jesus. It not only demonstrates Christ’s power over all things, but also the power of faith IN HIM amidst all the doubts and struggles that we may be facing. There is so much to learn from the honest confession of the father in this reading. This dad knew what his son needed, but felt helpless in response. He also knew what he needed -- stronger faith. When he meets Jesus, he expresses sentiments something like these:

“I’d like to have great faith, but I know that I’m inadequate, especially now when I need it most. In fact, I’m overcome by circumstances and doubt. Lord Jesus, while I believe, help my unbelief.”

Is There Anyone like Jesus?
Is There Anyone like Jesus?

There’s a question that many are asking today. Actually, people have been asking questions like that for almost 2000 years. Here’s another one: “How can you believe that Jesus is the only Savior, the one that is the Savior for all people?” You can believe it because there is no one like Jesus. You could try to give me another name or show me another savior, but there isn’t one.

Put God’s Protecting, Empowering Armor to Use!
Put God’s Protecting, Empowering Armor to Use!

Have you heard about the class action lawsuit aimed at a company called Second Chance Body Armor? Second Chance manufactures bulletproof vests for police officers and security personnel. Their products are used by hundreds of police departments throughout the country.

Apparently, several policemen have been killed while they were wearing the vest. Following some independent field tests on several of their vests, a flaw was discovered in some of them compromising their ability to do what they were intended to do, to stop a bullet that was fired at those whom the vest was designed to protect.

Dr. Gregory Seltz
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