Todays readings… 1 Chronicles 20&21, Ezekiel 31, Ephesians 1&2
“THE EYES OF YOUR HEARTS ENLIGHTENED”
Does your heart have eyes? What does Paul mean when he says that at least some have? Today we read the fascinating and mentally challenging first 2 chapters of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul says God “predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…” [v.5] and this is “to the praise of his glorious grace…” [v.6]
“Predestined” is a challenging word; we do not use it in ordinary conversation. It confronts us with the fact that “there is none like me (God) declaring the end from the beginning” as he stated through Isaiah [46 v.10]. The Creator is not ‘bound’ by time – a truth, a fact, beyond our present ability to understand!
Paul is inspired to write in the ‘present tense’ of things that are yet to happen! “In him,” he writes, “we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will…” [v.11]
Our faith, if it is really genuine, is shown by how we think – and – as a result – live “so that we … might be to the praise of his glory.” [v.12] Is it clear what Paul means here? If our “hope in Christ” is genuine, an all-embracing attitude of heart – then we will, more and more, live in ways which are “to the praise of his glory.”! This how David’s faith in God was demonstrated by his actions – and gave praise and glory to God.
Paul, in the verses which follow, sees his and our lives from God’s perspective, that is, if we are fully committed to serving our Creator and his Son.
Paul, and all such believers can and should see themselves as Christ’s “body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” [v.23]. The particular challenge to us is to have “the eyes of your hearts enlightened” that (we) may know what is … the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might …”
His “great might” is bringing our world to its awesome climax – and divine destiny! And us?
It depends as to how much “the eyes of (y)our hearts” are “enlightened” to “have the full assurance of hope until the end.” [Heb. 6 v.11]
