40 Days of PRAYER
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 39 | AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS | 3 John 2
40 Days of PRAYER
Day 39 | AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS | 3 John 2
AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS
3 John 2
“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”
The Apostle John was amazing. Arguably the disciple closest to Jesus, he wrote six books of our New Testament and wrote this book of third John as an old man after all the other of the original twelve disciples had passed away.
It was common in those days when writing a letter to a friend to inquire of one’s health, and John is doing that here as he writes to Gaius. Gaius was a follower of Christ whose walk with the Lord was strong and vigorous. And thus, here John is asking the LORD to make Gaius’ physical health as vibrant and robust as his spiritual health.
Do you ever pray for a good friend? When you do, do you pray like John did here for his friend or differently? Do you just pray – as most would - about your friend’s family or his doctor’s report or surgery or hospitalization or sickness? Or, do you also include something about his spiritual health as well?
Remember the LORD is always more concerned about how a person is doing spiritually – on the inside – than what can be seen on the outside. It’s not that He doesn’t care about one’s health, it’s just that, in the BIG picture of things, physical LIFE in this world is not long, but our spirit will live on forever… somewhere.
I like how the NLT version puts this verse: “Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.”
So, when you pray for your friends, especially if they appear not strong in the Lord (although only the LORD knows), be sure to also pray for their walk with the LORD.
Prayer: LORD, I know lots of people. Some love and follow you, and others don’t. Remind me to pray for both groups. YOU are God, and there is no other. Amen.
3 John 2
“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”
The Apostle John was amazing. Arguably the disciple closest to Jesus, he wrote six books of our New Testament and wrote this book of third John as an old man after all the other of the original twelve disciples had passed away.
It was common in those days when writing a letter to a friend to inquire of one’s health, and John is doing that here as he writes to Gaius. Gaius was a follower of Christ whose walk with the Lord was strong and vigorous. And thus, here John is asking the LORD to make Gaius’ physical health as vibrant and robust as his spiritual health.
Do you ever pray for a good friend? When you do, do you pray like John did here for his friend or differently? Do you just pray – as most would - about your friend’s family or his doctor’s report or surgery or hospitalization or sickness? Or, do you also include something about his spiritual health as well?
Remember the LORD is always more concerned about how a person is doing spiritually – on the inside – than what can be seen on the outside. It’s not that He doesn’t care about one’s health, it’s just that, in the BIG picture of things, physical LIFE in this world is not long, but our spirit will live on forever… somewhere.
I like how the NLT version puts this verse: “Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.”
So, when you pray for your friends, especially if they appear not strong in the Lord (although only the LORD knows), be sure to also pray for their walk with the LORD.
Prayer: LORD, I know lots of people. Some love and follow you, and others don’t. Remind me to pray for both groups. YOU are God, and there is no other. Amen.