This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 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." Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 29:4-9 NIV)
Though Israel and Jerusalem are destroyed and God's people are in exile they are still loved by God. Life goes on. For God ensures and his purposes endure. God's people endure as a remnant. God still calls to them. God still instructs them. God still heard their prayers.
Pray to The Lord for our city. Seek the peace and prosperity of it. For with it's prosperity in this world means our prosperity. I think this is a good word for us today. I don't often pray for Boulder or Colorado or the U.S. but I would be blessed and I think we are called to pray and seek the peace and prosperity of our neighborhoods and the world around us. Whether that is a college campus or town or company.
Amen
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