Day 31 - 40 Days of WISDOM
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of WISDOM
Day 31 | OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD
40 Days of WISDOM
Day 31 | OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD
OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD
Ephesians 1:17-19
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (NIV)
Here, Paul is writing to the church he started in Ephesus and telling them that he continues to ask the Lord that they might have the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation."
Some take this verse as Paul praying for them to be like New Testament prophets and foresee the future. But that is not what Paul is praying for. He wanted them to have that wisdom and revelation to know God better.
Many wish to know future events and other people better, and pray for “revelation.” One Biblical scholar said, “For philosophy comes to man with the message, ‘Know thyself’; the Gospel meets him with the far more glorious and fruitful watchword, ‘Know thy God.’”
Our courtship and dating is an attempt to get to know someone better, in order – most likely – to decide if "this is the one" or not. But even after marriage, the couple continues to learn about each other and grow closer together.
Paul may well have had that image in mind, as his goal was to see his church folks’ "eyes of their heart" to be enlightened so that they could know Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ better and better.
Paul knew their trust and faith in God would be limited without growing closer to the LORD and getting to know Him better. And that would restrict their joy and their effectiveness in this life.
Prayer: LORD God, I want to know You better, and I know this is a lifelong pursuit. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, and help me to learn more of You daily. Amen.
Ephesians 1:17-19
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (NIV)
Here, Paul is writing to the church he started in Ephesus and telling them that he continues to ask the Lord that they might have the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation."
Some take this verse as Paul praying for them to be like New Testament prophets and foresee the future. But that is not what Paul is praying for. He wanted them to have that wisdom and revelation to know God better.
Many wish to know future events and other people better, and pray for “revelation.” One Biblical scholar said, “For philosophy comes to man with the message, ‘Know thyself’; the Gospel meets him with the far more glorious and fruitful watchword, ‘Know thy God.’”
Our courtship and dating is an attempt to get to know someone better, in order – most likely – to decide if "this is the one" or not. But even after marriage, the couple continues to learn about each other and grow closer together.
Paul may well have had that image in mind, as his goal was to see his church folks’ "eyes of their heart" to be enlightened so that they could know Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ better and better.
Paul knew their trust and faith in God would be limited without growing closer to the LORD and getting to know Him better. And that would restrict their joy and their effectiveness in this life.
Prayer: LORD God, I want to know You better, and I know this is a lifelong pursuit. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, and help me to learn more of You daily. Amen.