Ephesains 1-D “Eyes of Our Heart Enlightened”

Pastor Randy went back to Chapter 1 for Easter, so this blog post if from that passage.

S = Ephesians 1:16-20 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know…

·         what is the hope to which he has called you,

·         what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and

·         what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead…”

O = These verses are part of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. I especially am drawn to v. 18-19 where he prays that the “eyes of the heart” might be enlightened. An interesting phrase—referring not to a physical seeing but the soulish-spiritual sight of one who really gets it down deep inside. No matter the circumstances your eyes see before you—what is the reality the eyes of your heart perceive and understand? Three things he prays that such enlightenment would cause us to know (for sure): the hope to which he calls us; the value he puts on his inheritance; and the great power available to us in Christ. Such knowledge should raise our spirits and provide the vision to persevere and even overcome, because he has and we are his!

A = How do I allow my hearts vision to be obscured by apparent set-backs, delays, disappointments? I will not be bitter or wallow in frustration this week because he calls me to a hope. How would I want others to be praying for me? I would love it is someone prayed for me like Paul prayed for the Ephesians (any volunteers?)! How am I praying for others to grow in Christ? This passage challenges me to be more strategic about how I pray for others. We all need a revelation of who we are in Christ if we are going to ever “become who we are”.

P = O Lord Jesus, may we see more clearly, from the heart, the purpose of our calling is hope, the inheritance you value is your people, and that your power is towards us who believe…your love has predestined us in ways more glorious than we can imagine—to be received into your family and life forever…to the praise of your glory! Amen.