Moment in the Word

3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

More than anything else, John wanted the early Christians that read his letter to receive Christ's total blessing in both soul and body, without minimizing or neglecting either. As we will soon see, God's provision through the Cross was/is a package deal.

Today, I was thinking of a couple people who stand in need of physical healing, and one of them might be you! Consequently, I pray that you will accept this word as the remedy for your affliction, in Jesus' name!

Previously, I said that John indiscriminately presented God's double blessing for both soul and body. Likewise, St. Peter said the same, "He (Christ) himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

First, the apostle declared that Jesus delivered us spiritually by bearing our sins upon the Cross and then added that by those same wounds we are physically healed! But where did this notion come from? Let's read Isaiah 53:5, "But he was wounded on account of our sins, and was bruised because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his bruises we were healed."  (Brenton's 1851 Greek Septuagint)

Did you notice in the ancient Greek Septuagint that the bruises which eliminate our spiritual iniquities are the very same bruises that heal our physical ailments? God's original Word made no distinction between the wounds that save us and the wounds that also heal us! God's redeeming and restoring grace is a package deal!

If we could only reach out in faith, believing for both spiritual and physical needs by the one sacrifice Christ offered, then our experience would match the miracles when "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people," as "the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all." (Matthew 9:35, Luke 6:19)

Today, by sharing these Scriptures so you can trust, I pray that God will "send His Word to heal you and deliver you from every destruction!" (Psalms 107:20) (Psalms 106:20 - Brenton's 1851 Greek Septuagint)

And to that end, I proclaim God's blessing for both your soul and body according to His own command, "The Lord bless thee and keep thee;  the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and have mercy upon thee; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace... and may the mighty name of the Lord God be upon you!" (Numbers 6:22-27)

Amen