“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 Jn 1:2).
This lovely—and convicting—request by John for Gaius has not lost any luster over two thousand years. Lovely, because it shows the high value one Christian places on another. Convicting, because we all wonder how healthy we would be if our body health suddenly matched our soul health! But let us daily seek the prosperity of our fellow believers.
Sports figures who have won a great game together or soldiers who have fought a great battle together seem bound as one for life. But what about us? Together we have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), buried with Christ (Rom 6:4), made alive together with Christ, raised up together, and made to sit together in the heavenlies in Christ (Eph 2:5-6). Even if we’re selfish, it only makes sense that we would like to see prospering all the Body parts to which we are now and eternally joined!