DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
APRIL 15, 2026
READ: Philippians 3 (Focus vs. 4-11)
MEMORY VERSE
“Our citizenship is in heaven.” Philippians 3:20
BACKGROUND
Anna and her husband lived in Argentina with their two children. They kept to themselves and spoke only fluent Spanish. But they weren’t Argentines.
They were sleeper agents, spies who’d been born in another country. They’d mastered blending into their host culture, down to how to hold their forks. But a change in their civil registry aroused suspicion, and eventually the couple was caught.
As the family was being flown to their true homeland, Anna looked at her eleven-year-old daughter. How would she break the news that they weren’t who her daughter thought?
Believers in Jesus have a citizenship even more vital. We’re agents of a higher king, for “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). The citizens of Philippi were proud of their Roman citizenship; they loyally served Rome as they lived in Philippi.
Paul said their loyalty stretched even further. Their highest allegiance was to Jesus, who ruled Rome and Philippi from heaven.
Unlike Anna and her husband, we’re not working secretly against our “host country.” We’re openly working for its good. Our loyalty to Jesus prompts us to serve our neighbors and pray for “all those in authority, that we may live . . . in all godliness” (1 Timothy 2:2).
With God’s help we will “seek the peace and prosperity” of our city. We will “pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers,” we “too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7).
Mike Wittmer
INSIGHT
The church at Philippi, established by Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:6-40), was a faithful church that actively supported his ministry (Philippians 1:5; 4:15-19).
The apostle encourages the believers in Jesus to live exemplary lives “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27) even though they lived in a city that opposed and persecuted them (v. 28).
Paul tells them to serve the church and the city with much joy in “the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (2:5), imitating His selfless, humble, and sacrificial servanthood (vv. 1-8).
As citizens of heaven (3:20), believers are to “work hard to show the results of [their] salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear” (2:12 nlt). Because of our faith in Jesus, we’re to be “blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault’ ” (v. 15) as we serve our neighbors and pray for those in authority.
K.T. Sim
APPLICATION
How might your allegiance to Jesus serve your neighbors? How might you show that help today?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“Believers in Jesus have a citizenship even more vital (than that of any earthly citizenship).We’re agents of a higher King, for “our citizenship is in heaven… As citizens of heaven, believers are to “work hard to show the results of [their] salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear”””
PR’s TAKE
Our citizenship comes with privileges and responsibilities. Pr
PRAYER
“Gracious Father, please help me encourage my neighbors.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM” Donald Lawrence
Kingdom, called to restore the earth
Kingdom, proclaiming the kingdom’s worth
We’re in the world, not of the world
Kingdom, Kingdom
Kingdom, speaking what’s not as though it was
Kingdom, we are more than conquerors
We speak the word, we get results
Kingdom, Kingdom
As a citizen you have rights…
You have rights
As a citizen, you have rights,
Claim your rights, claim your rights
Receive the word, we get results
Kingdom, Kingdom
As a citizen (of the kingdom) you have rights…
