This is the opening passage from the letter God had the prophet Jeremiah send to the exiles from Judah that were in Babylon. Pastor Jose has been teaching on the importance of “Sowing,” and this text reveals several points worth noting as an encouragement for us today. God tells the people of Judah to live honorable lives, to build, plant, labor, and to multiply. He tells them to seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which He’d sent them telling them and to pray for its welfare because as it prospers, so will they.
In the New Testament, Peter refers to followers of Christ as aliens in the land (1 Peter 2:11-12). He urges us to abstain from the desires of the flesh, the temptations of the fallen world we live in. And Peter also encourages us to live honorably so that our deeds may glorify God. It’s important to God that we live honorable lives and contribute to the welfare of our cities, as well as praying to Him on its behalf. These things bring glory to His name.