2023: Receiving Our Inheritance in the Spirit of Patriotism

By: Jesus V. Sison, PTRP (Deputy National Director, CRFV)

“Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.”

Happy new year everyone! We welcome the year 2023 filled with hope and in faith. We desire to see an acceleration in the manifestation of what we have been working on in our respective agencies, communities and families. The transformation of our nation through values by raising value-laden individuals to be a people movement in influencing others towards their own transformation. The transformation of our nation and rebuilding of our societies become the supreme evidence of our noble deeds as we remain true to our mandate and call. God intends that nations become our legacy; the inheritance we’ll have and be passed on to generations. He’s already given us the nation and it will always be our responsibility to safeguard her. He already gave us tools to restore and build her through Values Restoration Programs. In living the values, we actually lay down our own selves and become selfless to exercise our authority and influence in every domain that also should stretch to the ends of the earth.

Our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal once said, and we quote: “I wish to show those who deny us Patriotism that we know how to die for our country and convictions.” We are looking at an angle that our national heroes fought and died for the people and generations to receive a freed country as their inheritance. Technically, an inheritance will only be received by the heir once the testator dies. As for us in our own time, in living the values, we die to ourselves and be freed from the bondages of lawlessness that are equivalent to selfish interest nature. The 10 social illnesses that deny us patriotism are eliminated and we do can declare that we know how to die for our country and convictions. This is the spirit of patriotism that dwells within us.

The nation, as our inheritance, is calling and the answer to her cries is in the spirit and knowledge that God has placed in the inside of us. We have a value-laden life to live and a testimony to declare; that the power of a changed life can restore, rebuild and free a nation. It is God who wants that the moment we step into our respective agencies, communities and families, any negative principality, adversarial power and corrupt culture in that place bow in acknowledgement of the fact that we, a child of the Almighty God that obeys His commandments, living a noble and regal lifestyle has stepped on that ground. This is the spirit of patriotism that is at work within.

Today, as we entered the new year, our earnest prayer and desire as we move towards receiving the promised heritage- a Nation transformed and built in righteousness, peace, justice and truth, we hold on with fervent faith and living hope that it may come to pass and in fulfillment. That on this day of the year, we enter into heavenly blessings in Christ Jesus by an immediate act of faith in behalf of the nation- this is the power of the spirit of patriotism. Also, through the spirit of sonship, we surrender to God and acknowledge His will. With the Spirit of sonship and patriotism, we truly lay down our lives for the people. We pray that all of us will receive supernatural strength to persevere in seeking justice, upholding truth, showing mercy and practicing righteousness. By the divine strength at work in Patriotism, we altogether get out of the turbulent times and from this great and terrible wilderness, and come into our inheritance- a freed, peaceful, progressive and righteous Nation. This is the inheritance that God has given us to enjoy in the finished work of Christ Jesus, who was once proclaimed by a supreme religious leader that it is more expedient for the people that one man should die for the nation and not the whole country should perish. Jesus Christ died not only for a person “but for the nation and for the rest the nations.” This heritage, upon which we are now looking down from the summit of our faith.

Again, Dr. Jose P. Rizal said: “I die without seeing dawn’s light shining on my country, You, who will see it, welcome it for me, don’t forget those who fell during the nighttime.” As Filipinos with the spirit of patriotism, may we realize our completeness in the Almighty God through His Son Jesus Christ this day and cease from the wanderings of fear! It is time to enter our rest and take back our inheritance. We take possession of that goodly heritage which God has made our own as He worked through our forefathers. We rise in the spirit of patriotism to go over and take possession of our inheritance. Above all, we welcome a transformed Philippines that will always be a haven of peace, hope, progress, prosperity and life.