By Michael Yong

“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)

God had rightly punished his stubbornly rebellious people with exile in Babylon. But to the exiles, God’s command in Jeremiah 29:7, must have come across as strange – seek the good of the people God used to send them into exile?

Before this command, God instructed them to go about life as usual: “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.” (Jeremiah 29:5-6). Life went on as normal even though they were in a foreign land.

Yet, while they looked after their own interests, they were also to seek the welfare of the people among whom they lived, including praying to God for them. Clearly, this command from God was an act of mercy and grace, both for the Israelites and for the people of Babylon. While God punished the Israelites, he had not abandoned them. And through them, they were to be a blessing to others in a foreign place.

Scattered across the cities in Babylon, seeking the welfare of the city meant that the Israelites had to seek the good of each city, according to its customs. This required learning to pray in a way that was specific for the people in each city.

As Christians, we are “sojourners and exiles” exhorted to keep our “conduct among the Gentiles honorable so that…they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11,12). Of course, one of our good deeds is praying for others. In this REACH, we ask for your prayers for specific types of young people we are reaching. Let us seek their good for the glory of God.