There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: 3 John 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. [3 John 1:2]
John prays for good health and success for his dear friend Gaius, but he does so on the basis of a deeper prayer – that his soul is getting along well.
God is not opposed to good health and success, but it is not His first priority.
The reason we do not experience good health and success is because of our soul condition – our souls are not getting along well.
Jesus did not come to give us good health and success, but to rescue and renew our souls – the key to restoring our whole lives and the whole creation.
His miracles were signs pointing to His purpose, they were not the main thing.
People were drawn by the miracles, but Jesus always downplayed them.
More important – that our soul is getting along well.
Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. [Matthew 9:5-7]
Jesus suggests that forgiveness is the greater miracle than healing.
Jesus addresses this man’s soul condition first, the physical healing is added as a sign to show that He is God’s agent of reconciliation.
Ultimately, because God is dealing with our soul condition, we will also experience good health and success – but that is not guaranteed in this life.
In this life there is a greater priority – that we are changed spiritually.
That we are set free from our selfish, sinful nature.
That we are released from our bondage to evil, becoming agents of goodness.
Do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. [3 John 1:11]
If our hearts are set on God, they will produce goodness; if not, then our lives will not produce goodness, nor will we find good health and success.
In our western, consumer society, health, wealth and personal happiness have become the highest good – and many Christians have twisted the message of Jesus into one more way to reach that.
The focus is more on the health and success, or on ‘miracles’ – when the greatest miracle, and the real need, is that we are forgiven and transformed into agents of God’s love and goodness.
The greatest miracles of the Spirit’s power are not tongue speaking or healings or other ‘signs and wonders’, but the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, etc.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. [1 Corinthians 13:13]
There is nothing wrong with praying for good health, or that things might go well with us… but is our soul getting along well?
PRAYER:
Lord, my focus is too much on my personal comfort and happiness, rather than on loving You and others, and becoming the person you want me to be. This is the miracle I want to see, the miracle I want to be!