Enlightens Our Hearts

¹⁷I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,…

A few weeks ago I was writing about Jesus’  commissioning of the disciples; telling them: ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these thing,…(Lk. 24)

When I read a passage, from Ephesians 24, I thought to myself, "self," Paul is doing exactly what Jesus was asking of the eleven — go and witness. 

I am thinking Paul had a much clearer vision of Jesus’ request than the disciples, who stood face to face with Jesus.

You see, Paul didn’t have the privilege of walking and talking to Jesus.  He met him in a much more dramatic way.   A more violent and momentary way.  You can read the story in Acts 9.

In many ways Paul came to faith the same way we have — second hand.

I read somewhere, years ago, that Jesus’ request entailed more that mere information “to be rehearsed.”  Rather it was a commission to reenact — carry-out - Jesus’ story.

Teaching all that Jesus said and did by living Jesus’ love, mercy, compassion forgiveness and manner of being.  So that others might demonstrate what Jesus’ taught.  

Doing it all by the power of the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had done.

A commission, by the way, that the disciples saw as impossible.

Paul did not think it was impossible.

My point is, it is not what we know.

It is not a matter of how much we believe.

It is not even about whether our faith is strong enough or not.

It is about an old vision of living in a way that actually does see peace as possible.

15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason ¹⁶I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. ²⁰God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²²And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.(Eph. 1)