Prosperity of the City

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”  Jeremiah 29:7.

This has been my favorite verse as of late.  It hits me on many levels of my life. 

1. I’m in “exile”.  This is not my home.  As a believer in Jesus Christ, I’m here temporarily as the ambassador of Christ seeking to represent Him and His kingdom by His grace. Heaven is my home. 
2. God sent me here.  My authority and purpose comes from God alone.  Being fearfully and wonderfully made, there is a purpose that I’m to fulfill and be obedient too. 
3. I’m to seek the welfare/peace of those in the city.   This is a mandate of God to His people.  While this is an Old Testament passage for a specific time and people, there is a real practical parallel when we look at Matthew 28 and the great commission; also the effective playing out of the book of Acts.  
4. I’m to intercede for the people.  The prayer of intercession is a command that is given by God Himself.  That I become integral and integrated into the life of the the community, being able to beseech God on it’s behalf. 
5. That when the city (the people) prospers, so will I.  Everything about this verse is outward focused, save this part.  There is something in us that wants things to go well in our lives.  This is accomplished when we focus on the betterment of others, we too are then better.  This is the paradox of Christianity… when we lose our lives for Christ’s sake, we find them.  When we become servants to the “least of these”, we are among the greats in the Kingdom. 

I find the few verses that come after this verse pretty humorous.  

“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 29:8–9

You have God telling the people, through Jeremiah, don’t listen to your prophets.  The prophets normally spoke for God, they were His mouth piece.  But here He says, “do not listen to them… I did not send them.”   Meaning that there was an ordained time to where He was sending them into exile.  He was purposefully sending them into hardship.  Sending them to a specific place, with a specific purpose, for a specific time. If there was someone with a contrary message... it wasn't from God, even if they said it was!

Now, look again at the list I wrote above.  

I think there is something we need to consider changing if our actions and rhetoric alienate us and distance us from the people we are sent to serve.  It’s easy to serve ourselves and look out for our own interests.  As Christians, we are called to serve something and Someone greater.  Who are we to be serving? Ultimately, Jesus, but played out through those we find around us as we examine where we live, work, and play.  

“Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’  Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’  Matthew 25:44–45

This isn’t an easy thing to do.  It’s actually really hard to do consistently.  The balance we strike is striving to be holy and righteous in our conduct in and amongst an unrighteous people, who may or may not want anything to do with us.  I strive to serve and fear a holy God and at the same time show grace and mercy to those I come in contact with, because He shows that same extravagant grace to me.  

Studying the gospels, I feel that the more I grasp and see what Jesus has done, I have an example to follow.  Seeing my own need for Jesus, gives me the tenacity to pursue others and the ideas of how I might be apart of sowing shalom in my city.  

May God grant us the grace and strength to pursue “the city”, seeking it’s peace and welfare.  For when it prospers, so will we. 

All Bible verses quoted from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

You Follow Me

“You follow me.”  -Jesus

These words have been rattling around in my brain these last few months. 

I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that these have been some very difficult few months for me personally.  On top of that, let’s add the contentious political season we just went through (who’s kidding who, it’s still going).  Social media was just as bad as the attacks the candidates were running on each other (it was worse in some ways).   The church that I belong to and pastor, Calvary Chapel in Silverdale, is part of a network of churches that are also going through a challenging time as well.   Not an easy season of life.   

The political season has been difficult for many reasons.  One reason in particular is seeing friends that have been sexually assaulted in the past, friends that have been made to feel like second class citizens, and those who are silenced and demeaned by the actions of individuals who are just as aggressive and mean in their rhetoric as President Elect Donald Trump.  The election of Donald Trump to the highest office in the land seems to reopen these wounds that affect them so deeply.  It's very hard to watch. 

Calvary Chapel was founded by a man named Chuck Smith in the late 1960’s.  God used this man to turn one church into a global movement of over 1400 churches, various Bible Colleges, a University, and countless para-church organizations.  Pastor Chuck Smith passed away in 2013.  Since then, there has been an inability of those entrusted to guide the organization of churches to be unified in their methodology of carrying out the distinctives that make Calvary Chapel what it is.  It’s difficult to see these particular men, who are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, having an inability in doing this among themselves.  

It is easy to sit on the sidelines and cast judgements and pick sides.  One of the temptations in doing this is to mischaracterize someone’s hurt, concern, or feelings and then minimize it.   The reason this happens is because it’s easier than actually listening, being vulnerable, and having a conversation.  It’s been an observation of late that we have seemingly lost the art of civil disagreement.  In other words, to agree to disagree and still love the other, though there is a disagreement. 

Jesus’ words to Peter are simple, “… you follow Me.”  (John 21:22).   In a time where it is easy to react to those things that strike a deep nerve, the command of Jesus should ring in all of our collective ears, “…you follow Me.”  This should translate to us denying ourselves (our self will and need for retaliation), picking up our cross (crucifying our fleshly desires), and following Him (being obedient to His word).  Our greatest commandment is to love Him and love others. 

May we seek to love God, in all circumstances.  May we seek to love those that bless us and those that hurt us.  That is what our Master did, He loved you and me while we were still sinners; going to the cross for us despising the shame because of the joy that was set before Him.   So the next time someone says something or does something that hurts you, if you have the ability in the moment, love them and pray for them.  If you don’t have the ability to love, walk away praying for your heart and theirs… this too is love.  If someone is hurting, don’t try and fix it or minimize their pain. Sit with them and let them know they are not alone.  Love them by just being there. 

This isn’t easy and nor is it intuitive.  It’s learned.  May the Lord richly bless us as we seek to follow Him.