3 John
1-4 (ESV) The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.
2
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good
health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the
brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the
truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the
truth.
NOTE: Sometimes I
get annoyed by prayers that focus on sickness and health. I know that is not
right; and I never express my annoyance (at least that I am aware). But in this
passage, John is saying that he prays for the two things that I usually don't see
as important, and two other things that I consider of paramount importance.
John prays that things would go well for Gaius and that Gaius health would be
good. That is a little like praying, "Bless Gaius." They are not very
specific, and it could be that John's prayers are much more specific--it is
just that in this short letter he does not go into detail and instead
summarizes two areas of prayer for Gaius. So, one could hardly make a principle
on the basis of a short note. The two other areas, also written generally and
possibly prayed more specifically are that things go well for Gaius' soul and
(inferred) that Gaius walks in truth. And John does state that he has not
greater joy than to hear that his spiritual children walk in truth. Health and
things going well are nice, but the greatest joy is walking in truth. That is
my prayer for my children (spiritual and physical). I just don't want life to
go nice, although that can be good. My greater joy is to hear that my children
walk in truth. There is no greater joy.
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