Blessing the City

For Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Proverbs 11:11

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of wicked it is overthrown.

The blessing of the upright may be the blessing that the upright give to the city. Thus, we bless the city when we pray for her, when we befriend our neighbors, pitch in to help the neighborhood, vote for good leaders, even run for public office. We bless the city by living upright lives and thus not contributing to delinquency, disorderly conduct, and unethical treatment of others.

The blessing may also be the blessing that God gives to the city because of the presence of the upright. God was willing to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of ten upright persons, which proved to be too high of a number. How much blessing has come to Philadelphia because God's people live here, and the blessing he has poured out on them has spilled over to their neighborhoods and workplaces?

Our presence in the city is intended for blessing, whether it is through the blessing we pass on in the name of Christ, or the blessing spilling over from God as he cares for his people. Pray today that you will be a blessing where God has placed you - in or out of the city. Because you live where you do, work where you do, go to school, do shopping, have fun - whatever the reason, because you are present those around you are blessed because the Spirit of Christ flows through you.