Enlightenment
Dear Partner,
We are now in the remote Hinako Islands of North Sumatra. We have received a great welcome here. In fact people have been praying that someone would come and teach the Bible to them!! Pray over the next few days that God will use us mightily! Love you all, Pastor Gary
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… Eph. 1:18
The book of Ephesians can be broken up into three distinct sections: Our Wealth (1-3), our walk (4-5), and our warfare (6). Here in 1:3 Paul is describing some of the blessings we have received by believing in Christ and being found righteous in Him. Namely, that we have received a glorious and rich inheritance from Jesus. Paul’s prayer now is that we would come to an understanding of what we have already been given. That our hearts would be enlightened to the reality of these things.
It is possible to be a Christian and not be enlightened. To still be in the dark about many things. Or to even know doctrinal truths in our heads but not in our hearts. What we need is true enlightenment. To come to a place of heightened spiritual awareness.
Jesus was obviously on a plain that was higher than everyone else when He walked the earth. His sensitivity to the Father, His compassion for the poor, His love for all mankind, His wisdom, His awareness of the spiritual realm. In fact on one occasion up on a mountaintop, the gospels record that Jesus literally began to shine or glow. “He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2). His enlightenment became visible to Peter, James and John who were privileged to be with Him.
We to are called to have a light within us that we can shine. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
Two things I want to point out:
1) You ARE the light of the world. We have been given this light within us as the disciples of Christ. God’s plan is to use our enlightenment to brighten the world.
2) God’s plan is that our enlightenment would be so powerful or obvious, that it is observable by others. That they see our light shining through our attitudes and actions and recognize that it comes from God.
May we be enlightened more and more each day beginning now. May our light draw others to the flame!