Jeremiah 29:7 “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Most people think they want peace and prosperity, but a lot of them don’t act like it. Some people seem to always want to be some­where other than where they are. This verse is a word from the Lord through Jeremiah, but it also seems like common sense – which is all too uncommon! There are cities all over the world that are hell-holes or worse, but the residents don’t take the initiative to clean things up – including their elected leadership. Chicago is a case in point. They recently got rid of a failed, leftist mayor, only to elect someone whose policies are even more destructive. However, the principle in this verse applies to virtually every situation in which we find ourselves. You could replace “city” with “company” or “church” or even “family” and this verse would be equally applicable. God can guide and change even bad leaders, if we pray for them. We aren’t to be “complaint generators,” but rather change agents, and the first step to doing that right is always prayer. Our own plans almost always come with unintended consequences, so we need to pray and listen to what the Lord says to do. As verse 11 of this chapter famously says, God’s plans for us are good, so we need to seek Him for what they are and then apply ourselves to whatever part we have in their fulfillment.

Of course this applies to me as much as it does to anyone else. I’ve been the pastor of this church for 39 years, but I’ve also done secular “tentmaking” for income. I feel like I could have done better about praying for those organizations that employed me, but I don’t think I’ve worked for their downfall. I’m happy to say that I have prayed for this city, and that it has indeed prospered in the years I have lived here. I pray also for the nation of Japan, and rejoice when it does well in various areas. During this period we have had lots of people who have left the church because of school and job changes, but we have also had some who have nursed irritations and then simply left, rather than following this verse. I’m to forgive them fully and pray for them, because the Body of Christ is far greater and more important than this one local church.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the prosperity that I feel You have granted. May I work and pray for more, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!