Eph. 1:17-18a - That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18a) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
Before we were ever born, Christ made provision for our sins past, present and future (Heb. 10:14). Fast forward to today where many of us have experienced so much in the church until some of us no longer look on it favorably. I understand how you feel. I've lived that life and God had to bring me full circle and help me to really understand that "I am the church." God dwells not in buildings made with hands (Acts 17:24). He is not concerned about brick and mortar. That is Old Testament news. His greatest concern is about the hidden man of the heart. If God gets your heart, He has all of you and can get you to do whatever He wants you to do. The only way He can get our heart is through His Word. Read the parable about the seed and the sower in Luke 8. It talks about the ground, which is the heart, and the seed, which is the Word of God. You don't need a revelation to see how the four types of ground affected the seed. In the first three types of soil, there were negative affects even though they all heard the word. But the seed that fell on good ground sprung up 30, 60, 100-fold.
The whole point that I am making is the only way for your eyes (heart) to be enlightened is through the word of God. There is too much that follows in this same passage of scripture for us to be blind to what the Word of God does in us, to us, and for us. There is too much at stake in this life and the one to come. According to Jer. 17:9a, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. We don't look at our selves that way because many of us believe beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are good hearted. I've heard many people use the phrase, "God knows my heart." Here it is in Jeremiah. It ends with "who can know it? The condition of our heart is what affects the Word of God, which is a very sobering thought. If you say you know your heart, then that means you are constantly weighing your thoughts and intents, and only God can do that. Therefore, we should constantly look into the Word, and use it like a mirror to see how we measure up. Be honest with yourself; put your religiosity aside. You only have to please your God and Savior Jesus Christ in this life. His name is the only one that matters.
By studying the word daily, referencing it daily, meditating on it daily, and putting a premium on it at the expense of all else, you will experience an effortless change of heart (the eyes of your understanding). You will desire the things that God desires, and it becomes quite intoxicating. You will see yourself in a whole new way and you will understand that being "accepted in the Beloved" is your position in Christ. It is a fixed position in place, time, or state; i.e., Sonship, fellowship, and relationship. There is no fear in love. Perfect love casted out fear (1 John 4:18).
No comments:
Post a Comment