May the Eyes of Your Heart Be Enlightened!

Reading:  Ephesians 1
My Verse:  "I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe . . . " (1:16-10 ESV).

This is so wonderful that today, Christmas Eve, I would be reading this chapter.  This is a prayer that I like to pray for those that are especially close to me.  Lord, You are amazing - that You would give this to me on this day - the eve of Your birthday.  Paul so excellently states that which is most important.

I especially like the very first part of this prayer, "By having the eyes of your hearts enlightened".  We so need the eyes of our hearts lit up - our minds opened up to Your Truth!  Without it we understand nothing.  Without it we cannot "know and understand the hope to which He has called you". You only enable us to fully understand this "hope", this hope that  You have given us - the "hope" of You our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! 

The second part is rather astounding.  For the longest time I have totally misread and misunderstood this verse.  I always thought it was talking about what I will inherit from You Lord, but no!  I am the inheritance, "His glorious inheritance"!  I think I missed this because it never really occurred to me that You Lord love me so much You look at my coming to You as Your inheritance!  Wow.

Finally, the third part of this prayer which states"and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe. . . ".  Apparently, there was a great deal of occultism at the time this was written.  The believers needed reassurance that You, Lord are all powerful.  We, today also need to hear this.  There is as much evil today as then I am sure, but we also live in time when world events are so frenetic and on the verge of chaos.  We need to know that You, Lord, are all powerful.  We need to know that those of us who belong to You need not fear for You hold us in the palm of Your hand.  "Behold I have indelibly imprinted you on the palm of each of My hands."  Isaiah 49:16)

The refrain of the song On Eagle's Wings speaks this beautifully.
     And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
     bear you up on the breath of dawn,
     make you to shine like the sun,
     and hold you in the palm of His hand.

Yes, I am so blessed!  Lord light up the eyes of my heart today and tomorrow!  Help me to live with this "Hope" indelibly imprinted on my heart, with the wonderful knowledge that I am Your inheritance, and with the assurance that You are all powerful and as Your child I need fear nothing.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

He Made Me Free

Reading:  Galatians 4, 5, 6
My Verse:  "In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]:  stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]"  (5:1).

Lord, this is a most wonderful part of being Your child - freedom.  You free us not just from liturgical rituals and laws but from all chains that bind us.  In You only can we find this wonderful freedom. As we walk and grow in You the burdens slowly but surely fall away.

And yet - again the whole gospel needs to be ever kept in mind.  We must be careful how we use this freedom.  I had a friend who joyfully declared one day that she finally felt free enough to not tithe anymore.  I remember wondering greatly at that and feeling sad for her. She had been tithing out of obligation and not love. Her decision was in connection with a sermon our pastor had given and she heard the sermon, I believe out of context.  She did not consider the whole gospel message.  For tithing is a part of being a believer and  Your Word, Lord teaches us what that is all about.

Yes, Paul speaks of the freedom we have in You with a caution, "stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].  With this wonderful freedom comes a great responsibility.   "But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy} Spirit; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh"  (5:16).

Here is the crux of my freedom. I must look to You in my walk for You guide and direct my steps.  I must look to You in my walk for You, and You only, empower me to stay on the path You set before me.

I pray, Lord, that today You show me how to "walk and live [habitually] in the Holy Spirit".  I pray that today I live in and enjoy the freedom that You have given me with the whole gospel message ever in mind.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

There Is Now No Distinction

Reading:  Galatians 1, 2, 3
My Verse:  "There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female;  for you are all one in Christ Jesus."  (3:28)

This is a verse that causes me to realize the importance of always keeping in mind the message of the Whole Gospel.  While a particular verse or message may stand out, may speak to me in particular at a given time I must never take that verse/message out of context or in isolation.  I must consider it in light of the Whole Gospel message.  Lord, I pray that You keep me always to that.

Today this message here is a wonderful one.  Paul is making the point that we are "all one in Christ Jesus".  As we stand before You and are in You there is no distinction between us ethnically, socially, or according to our gender.  Each and every on of us equally share in Your salvation, Lord.  "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."  (3:26 ESV)  These must have been sweet words for the people of that day, where discrimination and stratification of the society was so strong.  But even today we need to hear this.  There are so many ills of our society based on discrimination of one kind or another.

Just yesterday there was a news headline of a soldier whose death was attributed to his own comrades basically torturing him for racial reasons.  It is so wrong.  Lord, how we need this message, this message of Your love for each and every human being, this message that we are all equal in Your eyes.

The ESV study Bible clarifies this idea of "sons".  It states that the Greek term for "sons" refers to the "the status of all Christians . . . who having been adopted into God's family . . . enjoy all the privileges, obligations and inheritance rights of God's children."  Thank You, for this, Lord.

And yet . . . this is where the whole message of the Gospel must be considered.  While we are all equal in Your eyes we are not all the same.  We are still janitors and presidents.  We are still male and female.  As such we live out our lives differently, but none are superior in Your eyes.  We just play different roles.  Paul teaches further on this in Ephesians.  There he makes it clear that we are different in that sense.  There is diversity within this concept of equality - diversity not sameness.

This is such a crucial message.  We, humans seem to have this awful tendency of wanting to lord it over one another.  We seem to need to feel superior.  Lord, thank You for this teaching.  Thank You for reminding us that through Your eyes we are all equally important - equally loved.  We do not need to be constantly striving for success, for power, for wealth.  It is an emptiness.  We need You in our lives - for You fill us up with all that we need.

"For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good"  (Psalm 107:9).

Yes, Lord, You are all that is good and fulfilling.  We are each of us different ethnically, socially, and according to gender but we are also each of us equal in Your eyes.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Self-Examine & Submit

Reading:  2 Corinthians 9, 10, 11, 12, 12
My Verse:  "Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it.  Test and prove yourselves [not Christ].  Do you not yourselves realize and know [throughly by ever-increasing experiences] that Jesus Christ is in you - unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?" (13:5)

I find it fascinating that Paul is addressing a group  within the church.  So these are people that claim to be believers - believers that are not accepting Paul as a spiritual leader or the message that he is teaching.

Paul goes all out in these chapters appealing to these individuals.  He finally concludes that each of us must "Examine and test and evaluate your own selves . . .".  He also points out that there should be evidence in our lives if Christ is really in us.  We should be "showing the proper fruits of it (the indwelling of Christ)".  We should also be having an "ever-increasing experience" of Christ's indwelling in us - in other words we should be maturing!

This passage really speaks to me, Lord.  Unfortunately this is something we struggle with constantly.  Our pride can destroy a church and so often has.  We become convinced of some particular doctrine - end up taking sides - hurt one another - break fellowship.  Churches split and much damage is done not only to those that believe but to the testimony of the church.  All because no one wants to admit error.  No one wants to give in or submit to one another's needs.

Yes, in times of disagreement we must focus in on ourselves - "unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected".  We need to question why we are arguing.  We need to cry out to You, Lord for wisdom and guidance.  We need to allow You to heal and correct any wrong thinking we may have.  If we are not willing to do that then we should be forced to do as Paul and question our very salvation.

Throughout Scripture we are admonsihed to examine ourselves and to submit to one another.

"But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work" (Galations 6:4).

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love . . ." (Romans 12:10).
" . . . be patient, bearing with one another in love."  (Ephesians 4:32)
"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."  (Ephesians 5:21)

Yes, how I deal with my relationships with others is very telling about my relationship with You.
Help me, Lord, to keep myself open to You, allowing You to ever heal and correct me.  And help me to be willing to submit to the needs of others and not place my opinions above the needs of others.
Thank You for this message.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Get Rid of Garbage!

Reading:  II Corinthians 6,7,8
My Verse:  "Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates, and defiles body and spirit, and bring (our) consecration to completeness in the reverential fear of God"  (7:1)

I have written in the margin of my Bible next to this verse.  "Get Rid of Garbage!"

Lord, You are a Holy God.  You expect us to be holy in body and spirit.  I need to treat my body as Your holy temple.  Therefore, I need to take the very best care of this physical body You gave me.  This includes how I dress - I must dress to honor You!  This includes how I eat - I must eat healthily.  This includes exercise - I must do what is needed to be as physically fit as I am able.  This also includes my health - I must pay attention and strive to be healthy.

But all this is to be done in moderation with discernment and wisdom, always with the aim of honoring You! 

To be holy in spirit requires self-examination.  Lord, it is so critical that I open myself to You - allowing You to heal and correct any wrongness in my mind and spirit.  Because You are the great healer, I need to cry out to You as did David.  "I said, Lord, be merciful and gracious to me; heal my inner self, for I have sinned against You."  (Psalm 41:4)  To be holy in spirit also requires that I make good choices daily - choices that honor You.  I need to ever be careful not to put myself in harms way.
I know, that if I am in tune with You, You will lead and guide me."Oh, send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to  Your dwelling."  (Psalm 43:3)

Thank You, Lord, for this reminder.  I pray You will bless me today and help me to rid myself of "everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit".  Yes, I want to get rid of the garbage.  I want this temple to be worthy of Your presence.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Jars Of Clay

Reading:  II Corinthians 4,5
My Verse:  "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us"  (4:7).

What a beautiful verse!  The amplified calls this treasure "the divine Light of the Gospel", because it is You Lord, inside us, empowering us to live as You would have us to live.  "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance." (John 10:10)

I garden.  I also love using the clay pots, but they are so fragile.  It doesn't seem to take much to crack one.  So I fully get the analogy of our bodies as "jars of clay"!  It is a most apt illustration.  We are  amazingly fragile.

Until I get this - the fact that I am unable to do anything on my own I am useless to You!  I love how this verse was played out in Scripture, in history.  You so often chose the seemingly less capable or unlovely to do Your most wondrous deeds, Lord.

David was the least of his brothers, yet he became a great warrior and king.  Ruth, the Moabitess, of a most disreputable people becomes a part of Your linneage.  Rahab, also was not of Your chosen people and was even a prostitute, yet she too became an ancestor of King David.  Moses, was so certain he was not capable of what You asked of him, yet he led a mighty nation out of slavery in Egypt.  And this goes on even to this day.  You continue transforming and using the most unlikely characters to show "that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us!"  It is the "divine Light"  dwelling within us and working.  "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight."  (Philippians 2:13)

I love it!  Thank You, Lord.  I pray that Your "divine Light"  shines through this jar of clay ever so brightly!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Progressively Better!

Reading:  II Corinthians 1, 2, 3
My Verse:  "And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the work of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit" (3:18)\

This is the great thing about becoming a born again believer, a disciple of You, Lord Jesus.  You transform us.  You slowly but surely peel away all the wrongness we have attached to ourselves by living without You.  That is the wonder of You, Lord.

Paul speaks of this in verses two and three also.  "You are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.  And you show that you are a letter for Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts"! 

Yes, it was the changed lives of the Corinthians that was the only proof Paul needed to authenticate the gospel message that he was preaching.  For all could see the transformation of the lives of the Corinthians.

Yes, Lord, You change lives.  As Your disciples we should not only be changed but in the process of continually being transformed.  For we are never to be satisfied with the status quo.  You tell us we are to strive for perfection.  "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Philippians 3:12).  Another way that is stated is to "be on being perfect".  Or as the Amplified Bible states:  "... but I press on to lay hold of and make my own that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me and made me His own." No, it is never a done deal.  We cannot reach perfection this side of heaven, but we are to strive for it.

You promise us that You will bring us along, "in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another. . .".  I am so grateful to be Yours.  I am so grateful to know that I do not need to settle for the status quo.  You are a progressive God and You make me progressively better!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Resurrection is Essential

Reading:  I Corinthians 15, 16
My Verse:  "For just as in Adam all people die, so also shall all in Christ be made alive" (15:22).

This is a wonderful passage on the essential truth of resurrection.  Paul points out that this is a core truth of the gospel message. 

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:  that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures"  (15:3,4, ESV).

Paul uses wonderfully clear logic and carefully and powerfully sets forth the case for how if Christ were not raised from the dead then our faith is futile.  "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain"  (15:14).  He then assures us that,  "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead"  (15:20)!  And then Paul cites all the evidence for this truth!  We can believe that Christ did indeed rise up from the grave.

Your Word, Lord is our ultimate and final Truth.   "And Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life"  (John 4:16).

Yes, unlike other religions we serve a risen Lord.  We celebrate Your birth because of what You came to do.  And You did that most dreadful thing - died for our sins - but Praise God!  You, Lord Jesus, rose on the third day!  You then told us that we will join You.

". . . for I am going away to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;  that where I am, [there] you may be also" (John 14:2,3 KJAV).

So we too will experience this resurrection.
     "O death, where is your victory?
      O death, where is your sting?  (15:5)

My heart overflows with gratefulness and joy for we can anticipate a most amazing future in the beyond!  Resurrection is for real!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Weigh & Discern What You Hear

Reading:  I Corinthians 14
My Verse:  "So let two or three prophets speak [those inspired to preach or teach], while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said"(14:29).

Lord, You even direct us in how we are to worship when we gather together in church.  Because You are a God of order You expect us to worship in an orderly way.  "For He [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order" (14:33).  You also expect us to be paying close attention - to be active listeners.

I especially like the phrase "while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said".  This speaks to my responsibility in a worship service.  It speaks to my need to know and understand scripture - to be in the Word.  For I cannot "weigh & discern what is said"  unless I am not only in tune with You but also have some knowledge of Your Word.

I also like what is implied by the phrase "while the rest pay attention".  You are tellng us that we as the congregation are as good at judgement - at discerning truth as the speaker.  I think this is so important.  While, yes, the speaker is gifted and inspired to speak, the rest of us are not to put that speaker up on a pedestal!  We are to be paying close attention to every word the speaker utters!  We are to "weigh and discern" every word to make sure it lines up with Your written Word.

Thank, You, Lord for Paul's teaching here.  Always I need reminding and clarifying, especially this idea that my ability to discern truth is as good as the speaker.  I need to be ever alert and vigilant to this as were the Bereans.

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11).

I pray that I will "weigh and discern"  every word I hear spoken in future worship services.  I pray that I will be an active discerning listener and worshipper!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Marred View of Reality

Reading:  I Corinthians 12, 13
My Verse:  "For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then we shall see in reality and face to face!  Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God] (13:12).

Lord, I recall my son, Ethan's wonderful inquisitiveness as a little boy.  We would call his questions "God questions".  And we would talk about how wonderful it will be to sit before You and put forth to You all our wonders!

Even Job spoke of this desire to speak face to face with You in the midst of his suffering. This desire to stand before You, God, and, ". . . let me speak, and You reply to me" (Job 13:22).  Who has not cried out to You in their darkest hour?

Yes, perhaps this innate desire hearkens back to the days when You walked in the garden with Adam.  Then, before sin entered into the world You and he had sweet face to face communion.

Sins ravages have clouded and disfigured our ability to understand truth.  Passage of time has only compounded this problem.  So here we are "looking in a mirror that gives only a dim reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma]".

But, You did not abandon us.  You have "in many separate revelations and in different ways" sent out Truth to us. (Heb. 1:1) Then because You love us so much You sent us Jesus!

"For God so loved the world that He sent us His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Thank You!  Our tree is up - lights and ornaments adorn it!  As I sit and gaze at its beauty my heart is full and my gratefulness spills over  with tears of joy.  I am  so grafeful that, yes, one day I will sit at Your feet and gaze upon Your glory to my hearts content!  No more blurred vision.  No more confusion.

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Be Still!

Reading:  I Corinthians 10, 11
My Verse:  "For no temptation has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man.  But God is faithful and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation he will [always] also provide the way out, that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently" (10:13). 

This is such a crucial truth.  This promise Lord, that You will never place me in a situation that I cannot handle.  You will always provide me with the "strength of resistance and power to endure".  You will always see to it that I am "capable and strong and powerful to bear up".

As Your child I need not live my life with trepidation.  But it is hard to do.  It is hard to quiet my fears in moments of great stress and danger.  Anxiety can so easily overwhelm, but as Your ever growing child I believe I do get better at acknowledging You as my Lord and Savior in each and every situation.

I like how Paul immediately after this promise warns us to "shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God) (10:14).  Herein is my responsibility.  I need to always avoid placing myself when possible in any situation where temptation would be strong.  I need to make sure I stay under Your umbrella of protection by being obedient to You.

I once knew a Christian man who started going to bars.  He said this was the only place he could reach his friends.  Soon he was also drinking with them - he said it was so he could better talk to them.  His life  seemed to unravel after that.  It was sad to watch.

So, yeah.  Paul's warning is so appropriate - so vital to our walk.  You do promise to keep me, Lord, but I need to stay on the path You lay out before me.  I need to stop trying to solve problems in my own way.  I need to be still in my heart and allow You to work out in me what You would.

"Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"  (Psalm 46:10)

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Running Without A Goal

Reading:  I Corinthians 8, 9
My Verse:  "Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim).  I do not box like one beating the air" ((:26).

Dear Lord God, thank you for men such as Paul - men of strong purpose and perseverance.  We live in such a  confused world.  Our tomorrows are uncertain - fraught with possibility of disaster.  This uncertainty causes us to flail about and live with a constant sense of trepidation.  This sense of trepidation and uncertainty taints all that we do - takes away our joy and freedom to live as You would have us to live. 

But, as Your disciple I do not need to live that way.  I can live with purpose, with determination, with discipline for I do know my ultimate goal. All that I do should be towards that end goal.  That end goal of spending eternity with You!  So I can live with joy.

It is good to see how Paul lives his life with this very clear and strong vision of his end goal.  He is able to  "become all things to all men that I might by all means save some" (9:22).   He doesn't worry about his own set idea of how things are to be.  He can place himself into any situation, with any group of people, and adapt himself to the needs of those he meets in order to lead them to You.  Such power in that!

I visualize a taut line stretched out before me, guiding me toward You!   I cannot see the end for it disappears in the distance,  but I know where it leads. I do not need to run with uncertainty. I can live as Paul. 

"Blessed is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments"  (Psalm 128:1).


Ditat Deus - God Enriches!