Jeremiah 29:1, 4–7
In Its Welfare You Will Find Your
Welfare
The headline said that “Evangelicals
despair.”*
Some felt, with no one in their Presidential camp,
Their values, back then, really didn’t stand a prayer,
Since attitudes about gay rights had been revamped.
But they've signed on, and I don't see how easily
Some Christians still embrace the public words of hate,
Which, by example, put down people breezily
As if that’s how we all might make a country great.
Perhaps a word from Jeremiah still pertains
To those who feel in exile in their native land:
If we’d all seek the good of all where we remain,
We might yet grow in love, that faith in Christ demands.
Scott L. Barton
These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from
Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the
prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from
Jerusalem to Babylon. 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 what they 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.
+ + +
Luke 17:11–19
Why Wait?
He could not wait to have the priests
Declare that he was well;
Besides, as a Samaritan,
The priests would never tell
Him he was clean—and then it dawned
On him that he could shout!
For why hold back? Why keep it in?
Perhaps, day in, day out,
He'll help us realize that life
That's whole, includes loud joy!
When we're surprised at every gift,
Then faith's the real McCoy!
Scott L. Barton
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria
and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their
distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he
saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they
went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’
feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten
made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to
return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get
up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
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