Latest / The Daily Word / August 26 – Successful in Spirit, Soul, and Body
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Hey, good morning friends. Welcome to the Daily Word Podcast. I'm Robert Rosales, and along with my wife Yolanda, we have the privilege of serving as the campus pastors for our Gastonia location. Thank you so much for investing some time with me to be together in God's Word today. Whether you're listening in your morning commute or you're having a cup of coffee, or you might just be beginning your day with the Lord, my prayer is that this time encourages you. And draws you closer to Him. Just as a reminder, as a church, each day we're reading through the Bible together using the Life Journal Reading Plan. And today we're going to focus on the New Testament passage. And one of the things I've learned over the years is that God often speaks in the quiet moments when we simply slow down and listen. That's why I like to keep my time with him simple. A Bible, a journal, a pen. And a heart that's ready to receive. As we read, remember we're using the SOAP method. Soap, scripture, observation, application, prayer. What's the scripture that really popped out to me in this chapter? What's my observation? How did it apply to my life? And last but not least, I jot down a prayer. It's a very simple framework that helps me move God's word. From the page into my everyday life. So if you've never tried it, let me encourage you, and we show you how to do it in the life journal. So pick one up. Now, before we begin, let's pray. Come on, let's pray together. Father, thank you for this new day and for the privilege of opening your word. Quiet the distractions around us and the noise within us. Give us hearts that are teachable, minds that are attentive, and lives that are ready to obey whatever you reveal. Holy Spirit, illuminate the scriptures and help us not only understand them, but live them out today. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Everybody said, Amen. Well, I'm excited. Today's passage for August 26th comes to us from 3 John. 3 John, not the Gospel of John, one of the letters of John. 1 John, 2nd John, 3rd John, way in the back of the New Testament. And I journaled from one of my favorite verses, verse 2, 3 John 2. Let me read it out of the New King James. And then I want to read it out of the NIV because it reads just a little bit differently. This is how it reads. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. The NIV says, 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. I love this verse. It's been one of my favorite verses for many years. Here's the title of my journal entry Successful in Spirit, Soul, and Body. I want us to look at that word prosper. It's not a word that we use all the time. I think it's important that we understand how it's used in this. Context, the word prosper comes from the Greek word udao, EU o d o u a dao, you a dao. And it literally carries the idea of a person having good success on a journey or to succeed or to be successful. In one's endeavors. It's a little two-part word. U, e you, and that means good or well, and hodos, h-o-d-o-s, and that's the word for road, way, or a journey. So the picture behind the word is almost like may your journey go well. May you have success on the road of life. That's the word prosper. Here's my observation for the verse. John isn't saying if your soul is doing well, God guarantees that your body will always be healthy. Rather, he's expressing a desire that Gaius' outward life, including his physical health, would correspond to the spiritual health that John knows that he has. Why is that significant? Because sometimes we can unconsciously separate spiritual well-being from physical well-being. And John doesn't. He recognized that Gaius is a whole person, soul, spiritually flourishing, and then body. He wants his body, his physical body, to be healthy, and his whole life, his life would go well. And John prays for all three. And when John prays that Gaius Will prosper in health just as your soul prospers, he's revealing that physical and spiritual well-being aren't separate concerns. They belong together in God's design for us. A biblical view of health obviously must include the whole person, physical, mental, and social well-being, alongside the spiritual dimension, reflecting God's will for people to have good health. Just as your soul prospers. God's activity as healer isn't separated into physical and spiritual realms, but refers to his work in every aspect of people's lives. This means caring for our body through diet, exercise, rest, and relationships isn't separate from your faith. It isn't separate from your journey with God. And it's part of honoring the wholeness God intends for me. And intends for you. There's a lot in there, friends. I want to encourage you to go back and meditate on that verse. Well, how does all this apply to my life? This is what I wrote down. This speaks to me so profoundly. Over the past few years, God has moved me toward caring for my whole person at a different level spirit, soul, and body. Sometimes, as a Christian, I can elevate my spiritual life at the expense of my physical well being. As I continue to grow and walk with the Lord, I want to continue to honor Him with my whole life, my spirit, my soul, and my body. I will continue to monitor my diet, starting at the grocery store, exercising a few days a week, and I definitely want to keep my devotional life with God intact. And I pray that it grows in the word, in worship, in prayer, fasting, surrender. Giving myself over to the things of God, meditating on the word, renewing my mind. I know that if I do all of this, I will continue to prosper in all things and have success, spirit, soul, and body. Amen. Come on, pray with me. Father God, thank you for speaking to me today through your word. Thank you for reminding me that you want me to take care of my whole self. Not just the spiritual side of my life, spirit, soul, and body. Holy Spirit, I invite you fresh and anew to lead me and give me wisdom and strength to live a healthy lifestyle. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, Lake Shore family, as you go about your day, my prayer is that you'll continue to grow in your love for Jesus and His Word as you invest time with Him. May He give you fresh insight. Strengthen your faith and guide your steps. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word podcast. I pray you've been encouraged to stay in God's Word and walk closely with the Holy Spirit. God bless you. Bye for now.