Godly Exiles Seek The Welfare of the City

There is an idea in many of our American churches that goes something like this, "this world is difficult and I can't wait to go and be with Jesus."  Maybe you've felt that way before.  Maybe you feel like that today.  I'm tired of all the mess going on around me in this life, all the drama, all the problem.  I'm tired of hearing about the fighting over there, the government over here, and everything that is on the news.

But as God's people in this world, we need to have a better grasp on what we are doing here.  Paul did say in Philippians 1:21-22, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell."

On one hand Paul wanted to go and be with Jesus (especially being in prison, being older, and having been through multiple hardships.)  But there was fruitful labor still to accomplish and he knew that this labor would bring about joy, "Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith," (Philippians 1:25).  So what possesses a man to talk like this?  Because Paul understood that we are exiles in this world seeking to bring about Godly joy to as many as possible for God's glory.

When the Israelite people were in exile in Babylon, which was a horrific time in their lives, Jeremiah the prophet wrote them a letter from God.  This is what God had to say to the exiles in Jeremiah 29:4-7:

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 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. 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."

What God wanted His people who were in exile to know is this, "yes, you are there in a distant land that isn't home.  But I want you to live in that city in such a way as to shine my light there.  If you seek the benefit of the city where you live, you will become a light for me.  So remember that you have another home that I will bring you to one day, but for now live like that city is your home."  We could look at this passage and hope that the Jewish believers did what God said.  Or we could listen carefully and see that God is talking to us.

In the New Testament, Peter addresses his first letter to "those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia."  Now why does He call them exiles?  Isn't that a designation for people who had been captured or were in slavery?

But here is the truth.  We belong to a heavenly kingdom, especially because our King Jesus has said "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."  Jesus' kingdom is not of this world and yet those who serve Him as King do so IN this world.  What do you call members of one kingdom who are "stuck" in another kingdom?  Exiles.

So what are Peter's instructions to the exiles of Jesus' kingdom who find themselves living in a "foreign" land?  Here are just a few of the instructions:

• I Peter 2:1, "So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander."
  
  
• I Peter 2:11-12, "Beloved, I urge you as SOJOURNERS and EXILES to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
  
  
• I Peter 2:15-16, "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."
  
  
• I Peter 3:8-9, "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing."
  
  
• I Peter 4:8, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
  
  
  
  
• I Peter 4:19, "Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."
  
  

Look at the focus on blessing others, doing good to our oppressors, and living as people who are free.  The church as an exiled people should seek the welfare of the cities we live in, because this is for our welfare and joy.  So my fellow exiles... what are you doing to seek the welfare of the city you live in?