Living in God's Plan in a Foreign Land
by Alan Suen
Leaving China is a particularly difficult decision for house church leaders, many of whom have faced increasing pressure and sometimes imprisonment at home. This meditation on Jeremiah 29 represents their heartache, as well as their desire to follow God faithfully in their new home.
Along with the article “Where Are You Running To?”, these represent two responses of house church leaders to the current climate in China.
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The concept of living as sojourners emphasizes our dependence on God, the King of the kingdom to which we truly belong.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." This verse comforted me during my initial doubts about moving.
For a while after first arriving, I often pondered whether my leaving China was in accordance with God’s will, or if I had somehow escaped from it. At times, fear would grip me, and I would wonder when God's judgment might descend upon me. However, this passage brings great comfort, reminding me that God's plans are for our prosperity, not disaster. It instills a sense of peace, assuring me that my thoughts should be of comfort, not impending doom.
The term "plans" in the original text implies a deliberate design rather than a mere idea; and "welfare" conveys not just peace but flourishing. God's plans are to prosper us, giving us hope and a future, a promise that brings comfort and hope, especially when the future seems uncertain.
This promise from God is precious, assuring us that he has a plan for us, even when we can't see what lies ahead. Like driving to an unknown destination, the path becomes clear as we move forward, trusting in God's plan.
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Alan Suen (pseudonym) has served as a writer, editor, translator, and professor of philosophy and religion for over 20 years. He was also a founding elder of a large house church in a major Chinese city. His primary interests are theological education and literature.
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Category: Devotional
Date created: 2023
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:5-7, 10-13
Key terms: diaspora, discipleship, Chinese emigration
This article was originally a sermon, which has been edited for length and clarity. This English edition and introduction are copyright © 2024 by the Center for House Church Theology. All rights reserved. Illustration by PC Ng.
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