“I pray also 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 the saints. . . .” (Ephesians 1:18)
Sometimes Christians don’t see so good. Peter wrote that Christians who have stopped growing spiritually – growing in our ability to live like God is real and really loves us – those people are “nearsighted and blind.” They can’t seem to see past today. They make all their choices based on what they hope will happen now, this week, right away.
The next thing Paul prays for his Christian friends in Ephesians is for some spiritual vision correction, some laser surgery for the “eyes of your heart.” Why? Remember last week’s heaven study? We all have trouble “seeing” that heaven is a real zip code and placing all of our hope in that life. We can only focus on today; we want this to be heaven. It never will be.
We need God’s help to know God’s hope for us – being home in heaven with him and all the endless wealth of his kingdom. God doesn’t want his princes and princesses (us) to be satisfied with life in a backwoods village. Set your sight on the castle, and don’t settle for anything less.
Think: How’s your spiritual vision for the hope of heaven? Can you “see” it well enough to live for it every day?
Pray: Ask God to make your hungry for heaven. Yes, again.
Do: Pray Paul’s words from this verse for the six people on your list, mentioning each by name. (See Monday’s “Do” section for details.)