Your Eyes Are Being Enlightened...

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

Ephesians 1:18

Ephesus was a city full of superstition, magic, and all the other works which resembled that of a cult… It was the missionary journey of Paul (led by the Holy Spirit) to enter the city of Ephesus and open their eyes… A lot of times we see people who have gone the wrong way, we speak words about them but we never speak words to them… This is the message that I find some important for us to grasp in today’s focus verse… The people you encounter may not know what they’re doing is wrong, some of them may have very well been brought up with the notion that all the things that are being done are right and it is up to you to allow the Holy Spirit to move so that “The eyes of there understanding be enlightened…” Not everybody needs to hear a word of encouragement meant, not everybody needs a pat on the back, some people in your life need to hear the truth in love, some people in your life need a stern kick in their backside… The ministry that God has placed in your life, you are accountable for; every person you encounter everyday of your life should be impacted by the display of Christ in and through you… This is what Paul was saying when he said that we should be “a living sacrifice…” When you think about all the things that God has done for you, when you been to contemplate all the doors that He has opened in your life; you should feel compelled to live accordingly… You should wear the garments that read “by His grace” daily and you should be a model ambassador for Christ everyday and not just on Sunday morning… There are some many people whose eyes are focused on the wrong things, the enemy has them in a trance and you are the spell breaker… The problems that occur in most in the lives of people who live according to this world is that they place their hopes in and on material things… People of the world have the belief that a high paying job gives them hope for a bright future and stability; however, this is where their understanding must be enlightened… The eyes of this world must be opened and enlightened; this can only be accomplished when they are taught the hope for their existence, the hope for their family and friends is not found in the world but in his calling… Paul pens this message today because someone near you is still caught up in the superstitions of this world; there are people around you who need to hear your voice speak about the power and authority that comes from above and not by a title… There are people in this world are a trying to fill voids in their lives which they cannot feel and it’s up to the saints of God to let them know “what the riches of the glory of his inheritance” are… Can you recall when you were living according to the standards of this world…? Can you recall when you were focused on getting ahead and not bowing your head…? In the all things that you tried to do on this earth, what has gotten you to this point? It wasn’t the money, it wasn’t the stability and it wasn’t your family… You don’t have o believe in magic nor be superstitious concerning the steps that you take… If you want to reach the levels that no man can reach, if you want to be stable amidst whatever storm comes your way, you have to have anchor dropped in the faith that is Jesus Christ…  

This is the message that Paul is writing to the Church of Ephesus… Don’t get caught in the things around you, don’t allow the people around you to pull you down… You have to stand strong I the Lord and display your faith in Christ so that others will come to know Him… Instead of talking about someone who is lost or confused, extend a hand of grace which was the same hand that Christ extended to you… There was a time and we may still be experiencing a time when our eyes were dim… We couldn’t see our purpose or bring in to clear view the focus of our lives… Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus reminds us that as a child of God our eyes have been opened… There was a time when we sought the wrong approval; there was a time when we lived according to the wrong standards and a time when hell was assured to be our eternal resting place… Paul knows all to well of this state, he refers to him self as the “chief sinner,” but yet God opened his eyes too his calling and purpose… As we take this Christian journey and develop a more intimate relationship with God, we must remember that we are still maturing as disciples… There will be days when you don’t understand, there will be times when you are confused, and situations that make us uneasy… Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus tells us that we will be enlightened to know his calling; we have specific task in our life and we are developing into the Christians that God has called us to be. This growing process has begun since you accepted the call of God on your life! Everything that happens in your life serves a purpose and there are sure to be times of uncertainty or unfamiliarity… What Paul encourages us to do during this period is to reflect back to where we once were and know that we are growing… Your eyes will be enlightened, things will come into focus, your purpose will be revealed and you will gain the clear understanding that you desire… The truth of the matter is that when you thought things made sense in your life they really didn’t… When you thought you were doing the right things you really weren’t, when you thought that you placed your values in the right situations and people you were sadly mistaken… Your eyes are now being enlightened, through your hardships you see who your true friends are, through times of despair you see what love really is and Paul has gained that understanding and passed it on to us today… When your eyes seem dim with despair, heartache, anguish or misfortune; your eyes are actually being enlightened by God’s love, compassion, direction and desire... There will come a time when you understand you’re maturing process, there will come a time when things will make sense and you will understand that journey your life has taken… God will not fail, and He will not allow you to fail either, so continue to hold to His hand, continue to trust in the Lord and be about the work that He has called you to do! Your eyes are being enlightened and you are growing in Christ!

BE BLESSED!!!