By Rev. Philip Allred
“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 (NRSVUE)
Sometimes it feels like we no longer recognize the land we live in. The culture shifts. Values drift. Faith is misunderstood or even dismissed. In seasons like this, it’s tempting to cling tighter to power, to demand that our beliefs be enforced from the top down. But Scripture offers us a better way.
In The Bible Project’s video, “The Way of the Exile,” (Please watch this video below), we’re reminded that God’s people have often lived as strangers in foreign lands; far from the centers of power, far from comfort and control. And yet, time and again, God called them to be faithful, not forceful. To seek the good of their neighbors, not dominate them. To live holy lives that reflect God’s character, not mimic the empires around them.
This way of living might seem passive, but it’s not. It’s deeply rooted in trust; a trust that God is still at work even when we are not in charge. It’s bold in its gentleness, powerful in its humility, and transformative in its witness.
In a time when some call for Christians to “take back” the nation, maybe God is calling us to something deeper: to live faithfully, to love generously, and to embody the presence of Christ wherever we are planted.
What if we lived not as conquerors, but as compassionate exiles? Not as cultural warriors, but as faithful witnesses?
That might just be the better way.
Prayer:
God of every nation and land,
Teach us to live as your people wherever we find ourselves.
Help us resist the pull toward fear and control,
And instead embrace the humble, hopeful path of your kingdom.
Let our witness reflect your love,
So that others might see Jesus in us.
Amen.