3 John 2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
While taking a class on the Epistles of John, I had a professor challenge the class with this verse. The challenge was issued in the form of these questions, "What if someone prayed this prayer for you? Is this the kind of prayer you want answered? In other words, what if the physical condition matched the pitiful condition of the spiritual? We need to work on our physical health and be able to pray this prayer with boldness."
Many people today are far more healthy and prosperous physically than they are spiritually. Mind you, this is not to say that there is no room for gain in the physical but it is true that many people in the church need the reverse of the prayer found in 3 John 2, 'I pray that you may be spiritually as healthy as you are physically."
What an eye-opener… After all, there is no indication that Gaius (the recipient of John's letter) was ill in any way; it's just that John was confident of Gaius' fitness of soul. Lord, may we be well toned, strong, and healthy in the soul! May we be spiritually prosperous! May our physical and financial health reveal the need for prayer in light of the condition of our souls!
Thanks be to God Almighty that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to heal our souls and His Holy Spirit to be our "personal trainer." May each of us remember to exercise our spiritual "muscles" and strengthen our spiritual health daily…
