Jeremiah 29:4–8
Matthew 5:16; 9:36–38
Matthew 28:18–20
Romans 10:14–15
Can we imagine what our city and even the world would be like if God’s will be done on earth, just as it is in heaven? What would it look like to see a greater measure of God’s kingdom advancing in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our workplaces? What if God’s name was set apart and treasured (hallowed) in our worship, in our hearts, in our lives, in our marriages, and in our families in such a way that unbelievers were consistently being converted, following Christ as Savior and Lord?
These questions are rooted in the first three petitions of the Lord’s prayer, which we pray each week during the intercession time of our corporate worship (Matthew 6:9-10). Jesus has provided us with a pattern for prayer that reflects God’s redemptive heart for making Christ’s name supreme throughout the world (Psalm 96:3, 7), for shaping our hearts to carry out His mission, and for establishing His shalom on earth. While shalom is the culminating work of God, we are not only to pray for it, but we are also to actively seek it.
In our first passage (Jeremiah 29:4-8), when Israel is called by God through the prophet Jeremiah to pray and seek the shalom of the city, they are called to seek the wholeness, well-being, blessing, and completeness of Babylon, their captors, and the place of their exile.
“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 their 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. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, (Jeremiah 29:4–8)
While often translated as “welfare” or “peace” in our bibles, the word shalom is packed with vivid meaning. It is a relational concept whereby there is harmony with one’s soul, one’s environment, and one’s neighbor. It includes both spiritual and physical well-being. The Scriptures make it clear, that the heart of shalom is a reconciled relationship with God himself through faith in Jesus Christ. Shalom is the way things ought to be!
Just as the Lord called Israel to seek the shalom of the city where “I have sent you,” God has called us to seek the shalom of Memphis–because in God’s sovereignty, we are here now because He sent us. God, by His grace, repairs and restores, but includes us as agents of God’s divine mission to Memphis (1 Corinthians 3:5-6, 9). He does so in such a way that our shalom and our neighbors’ shalom are tied together, inseparable–“for in its welfare you will find your welfare (7c).”
For Memphis to experience shalom, all our neighborhoods must experience shalom. Because there are no “quick-fix” solutions to the brokenness around us and progress often comes slowly, the temptation can be to withdraw from the overwhelming need, to conform to the culture around us, or to huddle up as Christians, excluding those who don’t know the Lord. The word “seek” here in the context of Jeremiah 29 is a strong word that could easily be translated as “to tread to the point of making a well-worn path.” In other words, seeking shalom is a frequent pursuit, a daily choice that leads to a lifestyle of finding simple ways to show the love of Christ to our neighbors (Matthew 12:31). We root where we are and become “salt and light” to those around us through the ordinary patterns and rhythms of our lives (Matthew 5:12, 16).
Our second passage (Matthew 9:36-38) demonstrates for us in the life of Christ, how a heart of compassion for people fuels the ministry of shalom and makes us instruments of redemption.
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
"When he saw the crowds, he has compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" (Matthew 9:36-38)
The word compassion means “a gut-wrenching emotion and is used 12 times in the New Testament, each time associated with Jesus or included in His teaching. Compassion is a Christ-like trait, and as we see in the story, fueled his ministry. Moved by His compassion toward each of us, Jesus saw us, felt our hurts and our burdens, and saved us. We only love others because Christ has loved us and had compassion on us (1 John 4:10; Romans 5:8).
Compassion is a powerful motivation in our ministry to people outside the church who are in need and those who do not know the Lord savingly. Compassion not only opens our eyes to see people’s needs but also moves our hearts to feel their pain and brokenness. It leads us into others’ vulnerabilities and sufferings with gentle and humble hearts, disarming their defenses and cultivating an openness to Christ (Matthew 11:28-30). When outreach is motivated by compassion, we find ourselves holistically caring for both the physical needs and the spiritual needs of others (James 2:15-17). God is deeply committed to the integration of word and deed, both the demonstration and proclamation of the Gospel (Matthew 9:35).
Jesus finishes chapter 9 of Matthew by presenting to His disciples a summary of the great challenge and prayerful solution to the plentiful harvest: “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” In Matthew 10, Jesus immediately calls to Himself the 12 disciples and sends them out to multiply the ministry.
Our third passage (Matthew 28:18-20) shows us the scope of the mission of God is all the nations of the world, and the strategy is to multiply disciple-makers.
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Here we see God’s aim has always been to make His glory and fame known throughout the earth (Habakuk 2:14) and to gather a harvest of worshipers from all the peoples of the world to His heavenly throne (Revelation 7:9). We are reminded by John Piper that, “Missions exist because worship doesn’t.” The number of people who have never heard the good news of God’s saving grace or have heard it yet simply refuse to repent and believe in the Gospel is in the billions.
However, even in the face of widespread brokenness and darkness, we are comforted that Jesus has authority over all things and has promised that He will be with us as we obey His mandate to make disciples. In God’s strength, we lead people to faith in Christ (Colossians 1:28-29), we help them grow and mature in their faith (Colossians 2:6-7), and we equip them to evangelize and disciple others. Because this is the Lord’s plan, we trust in Jesus’s authority and His presence to raise up many who will go and participate in His worldwide mission.
Our fourth passage (Romans 10:14-15) clarifies the need for the Gospel to be proclaimed to those who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:14–15)
Unbelievers are held captive under the power of sin (Ephesians 2:1-3) and are sentenced to death under the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23). However, the Gospel, when the Holy Spirit works repentance and faith in their hearts, brings about salvation in a person’s life (Romans 1:16). The Gospel makes worshipers out of sinners and turns nations in choirs (Romans 1:5).
One of the great privileges that God has given His people is that of participating in the miracle of seeing a loved one, a friend, or even an associate go from being spiritually dead to following Christ. Our part is to plant and water, knowing that God brings about salvation (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). As conduits of God’s ministry to those who are non-Christians, God entreats them through us to be reconciled to Him as we share the Gospel (1 Corinthians 5:18-21). Sharing the good news, the Gospel of our salvation in Jesus Christ, is central to that work.
For all these reasons…
We pray to be a church whose members seek the Shalom of Memphis and raise up worshipers worldwide by leading our neighbors at home and abroad into a personal relationship with Christ through evangelistic conversations and compassionate acts of service.