Tag: soul

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Did you ever get someone else’s mail and open it by mistake? When you realized that the letter didn’t belong to you, how did you feel? Ashamed? Embarrassed?

We want to respect the privacy of people because we’d like them to treat us the same way. That’s the golden rule.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12

But sometimes God reveals our personal information with others. I’ve been in situations where a person praying for me covered exactly what I was facing, even though I hadn’t disclosed any details.

I’ve also been on the other side, where I had to pray for a line of people, one at a time. I didn’t know what each individual needed and I didn’t have time to ask; the line was too long. So I just trusted that the Lord would speak through me as I prayed, and based on their reactions, I’d say that He did.

We used to refer to this as “reading your mail.” It was like skimming through private correspondence but without the guilt!

Many of what we call “books” of the Bible are actually letters. Addressed to churches or individuals, they deal with the spiritual and social circumstances of the original recipients.

But do they apply to us?

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When Paul composed his letter to the Romans, he had in mind the Christians in Rome, not us. Yet because Romans is part of the Bible, it’s God’s Word to all believers, so it’s meant for us, too.

What about specific verses? I have in mind a greeting contained in a small epistle in the New Testament.

“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” – 3 John 2 (NASB)

I’ve heard preachers dismiss this verse because it’s a greeting. True, that’s the form it takes, but why would that require us to reject its content?

They must feel that because it’s a greeting, it’s only a wish; the verse expresses John’s sentiments rather than the will of God.

But is that a safe assumption?

To find out, let’s explore the verse.

“Beloved”

John the church elder valued a fellow Christian named Gaius (vs. 1). He knows that Jesus loves Gaius and died for him.

Does Jesus love you? Did Christ die for your sins? Yes, yes indeed!

“I pray”

John didn’t just love Gaius; he interceded for him. If you care about people enough to mention their names and their situations to the Lord, you care! That’s love in action!

Does God want you to pray for others? Does He inspire others to intercede for you? Yes, these describe the blessing and responsibility of the Spirit-filled life.

“That in all respects”

John neglected nothing; he strove for Gaius to enjoy favor in every way. That’s wholehearted devotion and commitment.

Do you love others like that? Does Jesus treasure you halfway or all out? Has He put people in your life who give you their all?

“You may prosper”

John was probably in his 90s when he composed this letter, so he’d seen a lot in his life. He’d witnessed successes and failures and sought for Gaius to flourish, his needs met and his desires fulfilled.

Does the Lord intend for you to succeed? Will Jesus provide for you? Does He call you to help others so they can advance?

“And be in good health”

From his years of apostolic work, John recognized the significance of health. He’d seen Jesus heal the sick and he’d participated in healing miracles himself. These experiences convinced the apostle that good health was God’s will.

Does the Lord want you healthy? Can you say a prayer for or lend a helping hand to someone battling sickness or disease?

“Just as your soul prospers”

John had brought many people to faith in Jesus. Their salvation, the redemption of their spirit, occurred the moment they trusted in Christ. But the transformation of their personalities would take a lifetime. John desired Gaius to become more like Jesus every day.

Isn’t this God’s plan for you, too? He wants you to take on the image of His Son. That’s why the Holy Spirit lives inside your heart. He’s not a spectator; He’s an agent of change.

Financial prosperity and physical health are wonderful, but in God’s kingdom, they depend on the ongoing work of the Word and the Spirit on the soul.

Does this verse apply to you? Dare to believe that it does!

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Living is easier than thinking. For instance, the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno proposed what’s called the dichotomy paradox. If you drive to the grocery market that’s four miles away, at the halfway point, you’ve gone two miles. Half of the remaining two miles is one mile. Half of that mile is a half a mile, and on it goes. When you add up the distances, you get 3.999999 . . . but not four. You never reach it. Yet you succeed all the time. Thinking about Zeno’s paradox can make your head hurt; driving to the store’s a piece of cake. (Unless there’s traffic!)

Here’s another example. Twice in his letter, the apostle James warns against self-deception.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. – James 1:22

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” – James 1:26

How is it possible to deceive yourself? You can fool other people; you just have to know something they don’t and then lie to them about it. They can trick you, too; it works both ways. But to deceive yourself, you’d have to know both that something is true and something isn’t true at the same time.

If f you’ve learned that two plus two is four, can you also believe that it’s five? How can you hold to both at the same time? That’s impossible!

But maybe not. James leaves a couple of clues about the source of self-deception.

“Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” – James 1:8

“Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:8

The Greek word translated “double-minded” is “dipsychos” and means “two-soul.” When you’re double-minded, it’s like there’s two of you.

Double-mindedness causes self-deception. One mind believes one thing, and the other believes something else.

In his letter to the Roman church, the apostle Paul describes this phenomenon.

“For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace: because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be: and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” – Romans 8:6-8 (ASV)

Your flesh (your limited, flawed, natural life) has a mind, but so does your Spirit-filled new nature, the one you received when you confessed Jesus as your Lord. You own two minds. If they agreed about everything, your spiritual life would be a breeze. No internal conflicts, no problems. You might not ever discover that your double-mindedness. But they don’t get along, do they?

“For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.” – Galatians 5:17 (NET)

What can you do about this?

Get a good look at yourself in the mirror. In the ancient world, mirrors cost a lot, so they weren’t common. But there was one place where you could gaze at your reflection for free: still water. A pond, a pool, even a puddle – as long as it was calm, you could see your image.

The Lord wants to take you there.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” – Psalm 23:2 (NKJV)

Still water acts as a mirror; so does God’s Word. Read it and act on what you discover.

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it–not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it–they will be blessed in what they do.” – James 1:23-25

Scripture will reveal the condition of your heart. The Bible exposes the inner conflicts between flesh and spirit, the root of self-deception.

But you can do something about it. By responding to God’s Word, you find your focus. You’re no longer double-minded.

“Unite my heart to fear Your name.” – Psalm 86:11 (NASB)

And God will do it! No more split thinking, fractured attention, and competing desires.

“He restores my soul.” – Psalm 23:3 (NASB)

You’re no longer deceived. Jesus has set you free!

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36

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God’s Wish for You

Overcoming Self-Deception

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