A prayer for the beloved of God

3 John 2-3 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. We are encouraged today to pray for those we love in the truth as well as how we might pray. Notice John prayed for Gaius’ well-being and health that they would prosper. The term prosper carries the idea of a journey. He essentially prayed that as Gaius journeyed in life with Jesus, his material well-being would mirror his spiritual well-being. John was sure that Gaius’ soul was blessed by God because he mentioned that Gaius was walking in the truth. Let’s remember that to walk in the truth is to live in the reality of the life of Jesus Christ dwelling in us. Our souls prosper solely because we are living with Jesus, who is true; with Him, who is real. The reality of walking in the truth manifests the love of Christ which is obvious and verifiable. John knew of Gaius’ walk because brethren had visited him and could testify about it. As we live to love with Jesus, in the truth, we testify to our soul’s condition for the glory of God and the gladness of our spiritual fathers and mothers. It may be implied that our material and physical well-being may be related to the prosperity of our souls in Christ. We learn from the medical experts that a peaceful, well-loved, loving soul impacts the body in a therapeutic way. We can learn from this that perhaps one of the first and easiest things we can do to express our love to our brothers and sisters who are walking in the truth is to pray for God’s blessings in their lives, both materially and physically. There’s no promise in this verse that God will give material prosperity to all His children, but we know it’s not wrong to ask God to bless them. We are encouraged also to live to love with Jesus for the joy of those who have invested in our spiritual growth and well-being. Notice how glad John was to hear of Gaius’ walk with Jesus. Beloved, may we walk today in love and in the truth. In all respects may you prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers in Christ.