Thriving

10/19/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on the words of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:7: “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 is reminding Israel that God did not call them to be in this foreign country forever. Still, God did expect them to settle in and take their current location seriously. God encouraged them to build houses, cultivate gardens, and flourish in their family life even though they had been forcibly taken away to a foreign country. They weren’t to sabotage or overthrow it, but to seek its welfare, and especially to pray for the community they were in.
As Christians, we are to remember that even though we are not of the world, we live in the world.  We, too, are to live as the people of Israel lived. We also are to pray for our leaders that they would be blessed, for when they are blessed, we are blessed.
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Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you that in Christ, our citizenship is in heaven. We pray for our leaders and the cities, towns, and communities in which we live. Lead us by your Spirit to seek their welfare so that our lives are blessed. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.