Suppose you were to walk into the Pierce family home on a given evening to share a meal with Maddie, myself and the rest of our lively family of 3 (almost 4 in May!). Aside from the smell of my mom’s legendary cookies warming in the oven, worship music playing in the background, and my grandmothers piano nestled in the corner, you would notice a large feature hanging from the wall next to our dining room table. On it, you would see one of our favorite scriptures from the Prophet Jeremiah.
His words were to the people of Israel, living in exile within Babylon, but amazingly enough, through the power of scripture, are just as relevant to us today as they were thousands of years ago.
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… 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.” - Jeremiah 29
As we gather around our table, this is meant to be a reminder to our family, friends and neighbors, that while this city we live our life in is not our eternal home, God has a plan for it.
Not only does he have a plan for it, but we are a key part of the plan. Our families, their growth and roots in our cities seem to be the catalyst for the “peace and prosperity” mentioned later in the verse.
It is actually from this verse, Maddie and I caught the vision to head back to the place where we grew up - Irving, Texas, to serve and love this community with and through Irving Bible Church, operating as a new campus of The Pierce Academy. (Opening May 28th for Summer, if you’re interested by the way!)
As you read this now, my prayer is that you would ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you where He’s “carried you into exile,” the local coffee shops, the businesses, the neighborhoods. Where might He be leading you to seek the peace and prosperity for those places. Is it your consistent presence? Your financial support? Your prayers? Whatever it is, we hope you would join us as an Irving Bible Church and Pierce Academy family to dive in and look for ways to come along side our respective community of Irving, and usher in the Kingdom of Heaven in our area code!
Comments