Daily Reading: 5-5-16
Ephesians 1:15-23 New Living Translation (NLT)
In his letter to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul exhorts the people for the growth of their love. He praises God for them; he prays for them to receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation in their connection to Christ.
Ephesians 1:15-23
1:15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason
1:16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.
1:17 I 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,
1:18 so 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,
1:19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
1:20 God 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,
1:21 far 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.
1:22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,
1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Paul reminds all believers in Christ that it is the Father of Glory who imparts wisdom and revelation; Christ is the model who reveals the process. The purpose for this impartation is that we would truly know God; to be joined at the heart with the Lord who is holy Love. We must grow in our understanding of God’s thoughts and ways regarding Love, because they are so pure and set apart from our human perceptions and expressions or actions.
It seems to me I play a pivotal part in the impartation of wisdom and revelation process; I must turn from what I initially understand and present myself to God with the desire to be made holy like my model, Jesus Christ. As I continue reading in our passage, the Apostle Paul shares the great blessing of gaining this spiritual wisdom and revelation. I want the blessing! Do you? In the blessing, I can experience: 1) the work of the Spirit to bring ongoing holy transformation to my perceptions and actions; 2) understand my part or calling in God’s redemption story, 3) receive the Lord’s inheritance or the riches of heaven for my calling; and 4) operate in the Lord’s power or anointing in that calling. Christ is to be made the Ruler or Head over our individual lives through this process. In community, Christ is to be made the Ruler or Head over His Body; the Church or people of God operating as one entity full of holy Love.
Prayer: Father of Glory, please do what only You can do in my life. I present myself to You for the transformation process; the work of the Spirit to impart wisdom and revelation so I may accurately represent the Presence of holy Love in and through my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.