Message from Scripture: 12/10/2020

 

Our message from Scripture today is 3 John 2. “ Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

This passage of Scripture has always fascinated me, in the comparison John makes between Gaius’ soul and his physical health. These two qualities, to prosper and be in good health, are then qualified by the statement, “just as your soul propers.” In other words, John wants his life to be blessed in the same measure that he is blessed spiritually. John can express this because he knows Gaius is sound and strong spiritually, in his relationship with God and the salvation he has in Christ.

I wonder at times if this statement can be made of us? If the state of our soul, the vitality of our spiritual life, was a reflection of our physical health and well-being, what shape would we be in? Would there be a vitality to our lives, a wholeness of our bodies and  our health? Or would we be weak and near death instead? If our physical condition was a reflection of our spiritual state, how well would we be?

When Paul spoke of the Corinthians’ abuse of the Lord’s Supper, he reminded them there was a real connection with that abuse and the condition some of them were in. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and ill, and some have died” (1 Cor. 11:29-30).

May we take care of bodies that we may have the best health possible, but more importantly, may we make sure our soul is right with God, that we have the spiritual vitality to please God and have the hope of eternal life. God bless.

Robert