"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:15-23
What does the apostle Paul pray that the Ephesian Christians, and all of us who have heard the Gospel and come to faith in Christ, would know? He lists three things.
The apostle prayed that the Holy Spirit, who had brought them to faith in Christ through the preaching of the Gospel would open the eyes of their understanding and enlighten them that they might better know Christ Jesus and know: 1. the hope of His calling; 2. the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints; and 3. the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.
What hope do we have as His called? Consider the words of Romans 5:1-2 and Romans 8:28-30. The Bible also teaches us that "our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:20-21).
What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints? Read Ephesians 2:4-7; Romans 8:15ff.; Revelation 21:1ff.; 22:1ff. God will create a new heavens and earth. The curse will be removed. There will be no more sin, no more sorrow, no more death. We will dwell in the presence of God -- in perfect communion with Him -- forever. It's beyond our imagination what He has prepared for us!
What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe? Our text tells us it is the same power which was at work in Christ when God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the right hand of God the Father, above all things. That is the power at work in you and me whom God has raised us up from spiritual darkness and death and brought to faith in Christ as our Savior. Consider John 5:25ff.; Ephesians 2:1ff. It is the same power which continues to work in us (Philippians 1:6; John 10:11,27-29; Romans 8:28ff.; 2 Timothy 4:18).
Think about it. The apostle Paul prayed that God's Spirit would enlighten us and make us know the hope we have in Christ Jesus, the glory which shall be revealed in us and the great power at work in us to create, strengthen and preserve saving faith in our hearts and keep us unto life everlasting. As Christ was raised from the dead, we shall be raised up; and, as Christ ascended into heaven and was glorified, so we shall ascend and be glorified (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13ff.). He keeps us and preserves us unto life everlasting!
Dear Lord Jesus, as You have risen and ascended, raise us up and make us to know the glory that awaits us for the sake of You and Your cross. Amen.
[Devotion by Randyt Moll. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]
Editorial on 05/11/2016