“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”
– Ephesians 1:17-18 –
Paul prays from prison and, from there, asks for nothing material or personal. He prays for the brethren and the mission:
- That they get to know God. This is the greatest and most elevated knowledge. The rejection of God’s knowledge has led the world to the corruption we currently suffer. Man is not interested in knowing God as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, let alone wanting to know Him as Father and Friend. The knowledge we need is not theoretical, but one that maintains a bond of contact and trust. We need a vital experience with God.
- Let them know God’s calling. Paul always said that he was called by God’s grace to proclaim that grace to others. The call is not for grades, attributes, resumes, or experience. It is His grace. Lost, we had no hope. Now we have a living hope that strengthens us day by day. The hope of our calling is an active force in us, which leads us to purity, obedience and fidelity.
- Let them know the riches of God. Here it is not addressing the riches of Christ, but we being part of God’s riches. It is amazing that God sees us like this. Because he does not look at our past but our future, he looks not at what men are but what they can become transformed by His grace.
- Let them know the power of God. By declaring ourselves His inheritance, He has shown us His love and by promising a future, He has strengthened our hope. Thus, He grants us the fullness of His power to be victorious. Having wealth without strength is insufficient.
May today God strengthen your weak, trembling hand that extends with hope toward His riches. Do you feel unworthy? Take hold of His dignity. Do you feel guilty? Take His forgiveness. Feeling impure? Take His purity. Are you fragile? Take some of His power.
“The soul is of infinite value.
Its worth can be estimated only by the price
paid to ransom it. Calvary! Calvary!
Calvary! will explain the true value of the soul”
(Gospel Workers, p. 92).
May the Lord be with you…