40 Days of Promise | Day 40
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of Promise
Day 40| Prospering in All Things | 3 John 2
40 Days of Promise
Day 40| Prospering in All Things | 3 John 2
PROSPERING IN ALL THINGS
3 John 2
" Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
(NKJV)
Have you ever planted a little vegetable garden? We recently have… a little raised bed in which my wife Debbie has planted a variety of herbs and vegetables. And – like anyone else who has planted similarly – we want it to succeed, grow and be healthy!
The Lord, though John the Apostle, tells us essentially the same thing.
The Amplified translation says it like this: “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]."
John is praying that his people, his little children, “succeed and prosper” in “every way.” Further, he prays that they might “be in good health.”
These desires of John’s towards his spiritual children are consistent with what our Heavenly Father desires for us too! The Scripture is FULL of these practical kinds of promises.
But notice the end of this verse: “…just as your soul prospers.”
The way I see this is that those material blessings are available to us and are OK with the LORD, but only if our spiritual life is pleasing to Him.
For instance, if you have children and they are acting like brats, do you reward them with extra allowance or ice cream?
I also think about the breadth of this promise: “…that you may prosper in ALL THINGS and be in HEALTH.” We are consumed with our desire to succeed and be healthy, and here is a verse where the LORD puts it all together for us in one verse. The PROMISE is there… and so is the condition.
PRAYER: Lord, help me always to keep myself spiritually healthy. Help me always to “seek first the kingdom of God,” realizing that then – just as Jesus promised – “ALL these things will be added,” and You will supply all that I need! Amen.
3 John 2
" Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
(NKJV)
Have you ever planted a little vegetable garden? We recently have… a little raised bed in which my wife Debbie has planted a variety of herbs and vegetables. And – like anyone else who has planted similarly – we want it to succeed, grow and be healthy!
The Lord, though John the Apostle, tells us essentially the same thing.
The Amplified translation says it like this: “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]."
John is praying that his people, his little children, “succeed and prosper” in “every way.” Further, he prays that they might “be in good health.”
These desires of John’s towards his spiritual children are consistent with what our Heavenly Father desires for us too! The Scripture is FULL of these practical kinds of promises.
But notice the end of this verse: “…just as your soul prospers.”
The way I see this is that those material blessings are available to us and are OK with the LORD, but only if our spiritual life is pleasing to Him.
For instance, if you have children and they are acting like brats, do you reward them with extra allowance or ice cream?
I also think about the breadth of this promise: “…that you may prosper in ALL THINGS and be in HEALTH.” We are consumed with our desire to succeed and be healthy, and here is a verse where the LORD puts it all together for us in one verse. The PROMISE is there… and so is the condition.
PRAYER: Lord, help me always to keep myself spiritually healthy. Help me always to “seek first the kingdom of God,” realizing that then – just as Jesus promised – “ALL these things will be added,” and You will supply all that I need! Amen.