Healthy Soul and Body

Chuckle: After the church service, a little boy told the pastor; "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money." "Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?" "Because my Daddy says you're one of the poorest Preachers we've ever had."

Quote: "The whole point of this life is the healing of the heart's eye through which God is seen." --St Augustine of Hippo

"This letter is from John the Elder. It is written to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is" (3 John 1-2 NLT). ". . fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones" (Proverbs 3:7b-8 NIV).

This passage, verse 2 in particular, has caused me to consider its implications for all of us as modern-day Christians. We don't know much about Gaius, to whom this letter is addressed, but evidently he had befriended the apostle John with warm hospitality sometime during his travels. John loved him deeply as a faithful brother in Christ.

Obviously, our physical health should be of major importance to us. Once lost, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to regain. With the epidemic of obesity in this country, and all the associated health problems, there is a growing awareness of the need for more healthy lifestyles in general. John was praying that Gaius was as healthy physically as his soul was spiritually. For John to use Gaius' spiritual health as a standard for measuring his physical health, Gaius must have been a spiritual giant.

John's prayer for Gaius reminds us that God is concerned for both our bodies and our souls. As devoted followers of Christ, we should not neglect the health of either. We should not indulge ourselves in unhealthy ways but care for and discipline our bodies so that we can be at our best in service to our Lord.

Let me ask each of us this question: If your physical health was as good as your spiritual health, would your physical health be better or worse than it is now? Would you want other Christians to pray that your physical health would be as good as your spiritual health? How is your health, spiritually and physically? Maybe it's time for each of us to have a check-up. If the results are not what you want them to be, seek God's help in getting spiritually healthy. Spiritual and physical health should be our goal. Once attained, we should nurture our good health to the best of our abilities, in the power of the Spirit.

“Inner healing is simply this: Jesus can take the memories of our past and heal them . . . and fill with his love all these places in us that have been empty for so long., once they have been healed and drained of the poison of past hates and resentment.” --Francis MacNutt

Love, Jerry & Dotse