As someone who loved to watch Star Trek as a kid, I love the classic picture of Leonard Nimoy, a.k.a. Mr. Spock. To me, his “live long and prosper” sign is just flat out cool!
This is probably one of the few aspects of life the Vulcans and the God of the Universe have in common. “Live long and prosper.” Or, another way to say it would be to quote the Apostle John; “Beloved, I wish (pray) above all things that you prosper and be in health, as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2
God wants each and every person to prosper and be in health. Regardless of your religion, denomination, status in life, He has plans to prosper you. Notice I said, HE has plans.
However, there is a part of John’s letter we sometimes overlook; “…as your soul prospers.”
Man was created as one person, yet with 3 parts. Someone once said it like this: “we are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body (much like an astronaut uses a space suit).”
Paul referred to our makeup this way: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT
Let’s talk about the soul. Basically it consists of our mind, will, and emotions. It is, along with our spirit man, the part of us that is eternal. Our body will perish, returning to dust, but the spirit and soul live on. From the time we were infants, our soul has been in training. We’ve generally been trained by our upbringing, surroundings, peers, schools, and people we trust. Of course, the training could have been good or bad, depending on the morals, faith, ethics, etc. of our “trainers”.
But in spite of how wonderful our trainers have been, there is not a one of us who doesn’t need to have their soul “retrained”, or “reprogrammed”. Another way of saying it would be, “everyone needs their soul saved.”
James tells us, “receive with meekness the…Word which is able to save your soul.” Save means to restore, deliver, and heal. Paul told the Romans, “don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind.”
So our souls need to be saved and transformed! The more the soul is saved, trained, transformed by the Word of God, the more it prospers. As the soul prospers, the body and spirit prosper as well.
A prosperous soul. The mind, will, and emotions nurtured, transformed, and submitted to God’s Word. God’s Word is His will; so with a renewed mind, you can
I believe there are a lot of unhealthy desires among Christians. Listen to yourself talk. How prosperous is your soul? Pay attention to your reaction when trouble strikes. Have you learned contentment? “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Are you continually striving for something bigger, better, faster, more memory…?
Is your soul prospering?
Do you feel the need to “pray” your needs to others or to God?
Preacher, what about your church’s finances? How long does it take “receiving” the offering? Are you always on the lookout for a better church, better salary, better program, or is God’s provision and calling enough?
Some believers play what I call, the “Ministry Money Market”, trying to get God to supply all their wants by giving to the “big name” ministries, rather than taking the time to retrain their mind and heart to hear the voice of God; to live and give accordingly.
Paul said, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” In the preceding verses, Paul wrote about being content, giving sacrificially, giving with a heart of love. He wrote in other places about giving, not grudgingly but cheerfully.
The promises of God are not for those who obey out of duty, but who obey out of love.
After all, God doesn’t give to us out of duty. He gives out of His love. Paul told Timothy to “warn those who are rich in this world, that they The promises of God are not for those who obey out of duty, but who obey out of love.
After all, God doesn’t give to us out of duty. He gives out of His love. Paul told Timothy to “warn those who are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the Living God who richly gives us all things to enjoy.”
The soul that prospers is the soul that moves beyond the dictates of the flesh and society and begins applying the principles of God’s Word to each and every situation.
I believe even Mr. Spock would find that statement to be logical.
Jan Grace 