Strangers. Pilgrims. Sojourners. Each of these words are descriptive of people who are wandering. Strangers. Pilgrims. Sojourners. Each of these words describe God’s people. I’m not so certain that we like to consider ourselves wanderers. As I’ve gotten to know the people of Mount Olive a bit better over the last few months, I’ve learned that many in the congregation are native Minnesotans and several in the congregation have been part of Mount Olive their whole lives. That doesn’t sound like being a stranger or a pilgrim.

I will freely admit that my life sounds much more like that of a pilgrim. Over my lifetime I’ve lived in nine different states, some twice (Oregon, Missouri, Wisconsin, and believe it or not, Minnesota). Moving has been a significant part of my adult life. My family says that once we get comfortable in any given location, that’s when we move to a new place and a new parish. That’s not the kind of life many people want to live, and it wasn’t what I was, and certainly not what my wife was, expecting. But I do find it to be illustrative of what it means to be a believer in Jesus in this world.

God’s Word reminds us that we are just passing through. We’re on our way to a better land, a heavenly one. But while we’re here, on this side of eternity, we need to make the best of it. God spoke this way to exiled Israel through the prophet Jeremiah. “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.” (Jeremiah 29:7) We’re to make ourselves at home on this side of eternity, but not be at home.

God’s words to Israel point to seeking that which is best for where we live. The welfare of our city is important to the welfare of Mount Olive. So what do we do in the meantime? We pray for our city. We pray that God’s Word would take root in our city. We pray that God would bless our city. We pray that God will create openings for the Gospel to be proclaimed in our city. And there are plenty of ways for us to do just that.

There are many things happening at Mount Olive right now. A new school year begins on September 9 and preschool students and their families will be on campus. Confirmation instruction begins, also on September 9, for students and parents to learn more, or review, Christian doctrine. Our Discovering Mount Olive course is later on this month, and we will have the opportunity of welcoming new, and not so new, people into our fellowship of faith. And in the middle of September the much-awaited roof and HVAC replacement will be taking place. Each of these things impact the way Mount Olive brings the Gospel into the lives of the people of our city. And on top of all that, God continues to provide other ways for you to bring the Gospel into the parts of the city that you frequent.

God doesn’t merely gather us together in this place we call Mount Olive, but He also sends us into the city with the Gospel, with Jesus in our lives, so that more people can get to know Jesus, too. We pray for the welfare of the city, because our God is a sending God and we are telling people.

So, as sojourners and pilgrims, we pray for God’s blessings on the city so that God’s Word can go into the city. This is where God has placed us and He desires His people to be faithful in living their faith and sharing their lives.

In His Service,

Pastor Paul Frerichs 

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