Enlightening the Eyes of Our Hearts
“15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 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. 18 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, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
The book of Ephesians explains who Jesus Christ is, how He accomplished salvation, and how all things are united in Him. God’s grand plan is to restore creation in Christ, bringing it back into its proper order. In this process, believers—the church—play a crucial role.
A recurring theme in Ephesians is the creation of a new people, a new community. Through Jesus Christ, God has established the church as a new community on earth. Just as God created the community of male and female in Genesis to reveal who He is, now the risen Christ, as Lord of all, calls His people to demonstrate His rule and glory to the world.
The church in Ephesus was a diverse community of both Jews and Gentiles. The walls of division, once upheld by laws and customs, were broken down. By confessing Jesus as Lord and living in His love, they became a new kind of community. The church is not merely a gathering of people who share the same religion; it is the place where God works out His plan of salvation. Within the church, believers experience God’s grace; outside the church, the world witnesses that grace in action.
Paul prays for the Ephesian church, asking that “the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened” (Eph. 1:18). We, too, must seek a deeper knowledge of God, understanding His calling and glory, and experiencing His power in our lives through the church. May we, both individually and as a church, long for His grace and continue in prayer for His transformative work in this season.
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for revealing Christ’s power through Your church, bringing all things under His rule. Open the eyes of our hearts so that we may know the fullness of His glory, power, and love. Help us to willingly offer our lives for Your purposes. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)