“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
These words are from a letter Jeremiah sent to Jewish exiles living in Babylon. He knew they would be there for decades before God brought them back home. Though Jeremiah wrote specifically to them, there’s a valid principle here for followers of Jesus in 2022. Whether you realize it or not, if you’re a follower of Jesus, then you’re living in a kind of exile wherever it is you live. Every follower of Christ is a citizen of heaven first and foremost, living in a fallen, sinful, broken world.
In this world, you represent Christ as His ambassador but you don’t truly belong. You aren’t from around here! This is why, the more you grow in Christ, the less you feel comfortable with things as they are in the world around you. That’s why the world increasingly feels wrong to you. So, what should you do as an exile in your homeland? Represent King Jesus and make disciples of course. Then, like the ancient exiles in Babylon, you should seek the welfare of whatever nation, state, and community you live in.
Though we can’t fix every problem in this fallen world (that will happen when Jesus returns), as God’s people we should work and pray for the good of our earthly homes. Though we live in exile and our true home is in heaven, we should also care about suffering, poverty, injustice, division, and conflict in our community. Be diligent in praying for your community and country and the issues they face. Be active in working for the good of everyone around you and be blessed by that work. You aren’t where you are by accident. God’s will placed you at your address, so seek the welfare of that place in His name.