Scripture:
Jeremiah 29:1-7
Sat, 9 July 2022

Seeing Our Work as Shalom

Observation:

What do you find striking about God’s instructions to the Israelites?

Deeper Reflection
WHAT WE DO IN OUR WORK HERE ON EARTH IS AN INTEGRAL part of what God has always intended: bringing His shalom to a broken world. The Hebrew word shalom is often translated as “peace” in English. But as Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. notes, “shalom means far more than just peace of mind or ceasefire between enemies. In the Bible, shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts are fruitfully employed… Shalom, in other words, is the way things are supposed to be”21.In Jeremiah chapter 29, the exiled people of Israel hear from the prophet Jeremiah that they were to “build houses”, “plant gardens” and “take wives and have sons and daughters” (vv.5-6), so that through their work and lives, they would “seek the shalom of the city” (v.7; shalom here translated as “welfare” in ESV, NAS, and “peace and prosperity” in NIV, NLT). Now, this would have been understandable if the instructions were given when they were residing in the Promised Land, but these were actually given when they were in exile in Babylon! But God tells the people of Israel then – and reminds Christians today – that wherever God has placed us, we are to use our skills and talents, so that through our work the people around us can be blessed. As Katherine Alsdorf stated, “our work is a critical way in which God is caring for human beings and renewing His world”22. Thus, our work enables us to be agents of God’s divine purpose of shalom.
21 Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be (Eerdmans, 1996). 22 Quoted in Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavour (Hodder & Stoughton, 2014).
Application:

How can my work (even in unfavourable circumstances) bring peace and prosperity to others, especially the people with whom I work and those to whom I render service?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: In leading the church, to have clarity that comes from God’s wisdom, courage that comes from God’s leading and compassion that comes from God’s love
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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