Blessing Your Zip Code for Jesus

To make a kingdom impact, you must have proper kingdom attitudes and take proper kingdom actions. In a nutshell, first you believe what God says about himself in his Word and then you begin to build a life and legacy upon that reality. But there is one more thing—you must bless your city.

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What do I mean by “bless your city”?

In Jeremiah 29, God gives a double recipe for how his people might endow favor upon their place of residence.

Prosper the city

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile” (verse 7).

Regardless of where Christians live, they are called of God to perpetually seek the good (aka security and prosperity) of that town or city. In the case of the exiles of Jeremiah’s day, that particular place was Babylon—not exactly the cream of the holy habitation crop. Babylon was far from Jerusalem. Babylon was a place of idol worship. Babylon was home to the heathen.

Yet the people of God, as salt and light in the world, were commissioned by the Most High to make Babylon great again. By building strong families and quasi-permanent homes and planting lush gardens, God’s covenant people could add value and purpose and beauty to an otherwise darkened city.

Pray for the city

“Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (verse 7).

Long before the Lord Jesus taught his disciples to “love their enemies” and “pray for them” (Matt. 5:44)—most notably their Gentile overlords—the Lord of hosts called his exiled people to get on bended knee for their Babylonian occupiers. No, not bow down before their golden images (compare Daniel 3), but rather lift up the people and the city in prayer, just as Daniel did (see Daniel 6).

Do you care about your city of residence to the same degree that God does? Are you actively involved in your town’s well-being? Are you doing anything worthwhile to add value and goodness and beauty to your zip code? And just as important, are you regularly praying for your city? Are you interceding on bent knee for your neighbors and local neighborhoods? If not, start today.

Believe, build, bless—and get ready to watch God’s kingdom come!

This article is the third post of a three-part series. Did you miss the other two?

• God's 3-Step Blueprint for Kingdom Advancement, Part 1 (Believe)

• Two Tips for Kingdom Building, Part 2 (Build)