Verse for today – “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Eph. 1:18).”
I love the word hope! There are few words like it in the English language. Hope lifts us out of fear and failure, out of depression and anxiety, out of meaningless existence and dashed expectations. Hope opens the doors of personal prisons, to broad, sunny days filled with life and new expectations. So, let’s put hope into the context of this verse. What is the hope of God’s calling? Consider the following scenario.
You have been out of work and living in near poverty for several years. You and your children have little to eat and your home needs major repairs. The car rarely starts. One day you receive a phone call from an old friend. He knows your skill set and knows you personally. He offers to pay you twice the income you have ever made, give you a company car, and employ your wife if she wants to work. He asks when you can start. Suddenly you have hope!
I realize I am taking a risk in writing the paragraph above. I risk losing some people to strong desires for worldly hopes! But I am trying to create a picture. Most of the world lives in spiritual poverty! Not for a few years, but for lifetimes. We are far from God and kept at arm’s length by lies and misunderstandings. We have the debt of guilt in our hearts and the pain of character flaws on our minds. Our families are suffering. The world is suffering and far from God and His glory. Enter our Savior!
Jesus came into our world, a world that He made, to offer hope. He said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matt 11:28-30).” He said, “… I came that they [you] may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).” He said, “… he who believes in Me will live even if he dies (John 11:25).” He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6).” Jesus came to offer hope and to solve our spiritual poverty. The hope of His calling is spiritual riches! We went over 12 of these blessings as we discussed the first part of Ephesians 1. No doubt God’s call represents even greater riches that He cannot easily describe to us at this time! Are the eyes of your heart open? Can you see what God is offering?