Readings for today: Jeremiah 29-32
“Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.” (Jeremiah 29:7 CSB)
I have reflected on this verse for many years. It is one of the main reasons I am so passionate about local missions. I love where I live. I believe God planted me here to make a difference. I believe our church should be a blessing to our city. It’s why we work so hard to partner with community organizations like the Parker Task Force, Douglas County School District, Parker Town Council, Parker Chamber of Commerce, etc. In fact, our church is the only church I’ve ever even heard of who got the “Business of the Year” award from our local chamber! Not only that but we were the only church to help sponsor the celebrations around the inauguration of our mayor this past year and we are routinely the church our chamber invites to host a city-wide worship center during the annual Parker Days Festival. I don’t share these things to boast but simply to illustrate our heart to serve. We love Parker, CO. We consider it a privilege to serve. And we want to do all we can to seek the good of our town because we believe our welfare is bound up with her welfare.
Jeremiah believed much the same though his circumstances were much different. He was writing to exiles. He was writing to those who had been taken captive and carted off to captivity. He was writing to those who lived as strangers and aliens in a foreign land. His words most likely would not have been received well. God’s people were living in enemy territory. Why in the world would they seek the welfare of those who had destroyed their homes, cities, and nation? Why would they pray to the Lord for those who built their empire off of conquest and violence and war and suffering? They were God’s chosen people, how could their welfare be wrapped up with the welfare of their pagan neighbors? Surely Jeremiah’s letter would have been met with suspicion and yet, when cast against the backdrop of God’s great salvation plan, it does seem to make sense. God had called Israel to be a light to the nations. He had called her a chosen race, a holy nation, and a royal priesthood. God’s expectation is that Israel would intercede for the nations. Teach the nations. Bless the nations. In fact, one of the main reasons Israel found herself in exile is because she had forgotten that call. Jeremiah is reminder her yet again of why she was chosen in the first place.
The same holds true for us. We are blessed to be a blessing. God gives to us so that we might give to others. God is generous with us so we might be generous to others. God is gracious to us so we might be gracious to others. God has forgiven us so we might forgive others. The gospel call is not just about what God wants to do to us, it also includes what He wants to do through us. And one of the major reasons God plants a church in a city is to bring about blessing. Bring about hope. Bring about joy and peace. Every church should seek the well-being of the city where she is located. Every church should pray regularly and faithfully for the city where she is located. Every church should understand the intrinsic tie between her welfare and her city’s welfare and respond accordingly. This is God’s call on our lives.
Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 33-36