… this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
Summary: Paul’s words point us to a deeper understanding of God’s love for us.
Let’s begin today’s meditation with a passage from the first chapter of Paul’s letter. He writes:
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1: 18-19a)
Paul asks God to allow us to see through the “eyes of [our] heart.”
Why?
The answer is all that follows in his letter.
How can we understand God’s grace except through the eyes of our heart? Grace is not something that can be measured or weighed. It is not something you can see with our natural eyes or touch with our hands. Grace is an attribute of love, and love is a matter of the heart.
The same holds true for the “boundless riches of Christ.” We cannot hold the riches of Christ in our hand, but we can hold them with our heart.
So what are we talking about here?
In John’s gospel, Jesus teaches us that “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Jesus tells us that we have to be “born again.” (John 3:3) He explains to Nicodemus that “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6)
When we talk about the “eyes of our heart,” we mean a metaphorical heart. Yet even though it is metaphorical, it still represents something real.
Our brain is a few pounds of jelly in our skull, but our mind is invisible. Our physical body is “about 99% … made up of six elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus”* but our soul is unseen and untouchable. Our physical heart is the center of our physical body. In the same way, our spiritual heart is the center of our invisible, spiritual being.
If we don’t acknowledge our spiritual nature, we are “dead” in the spirit. When we realize that we are more than a body, more than flesh and blood, then we can contemplate real life. Accepting Jesus as Lord is the final step into a new world of boundless light and love.
Application: Pray with Paul that the eyes of our hearts will be enlightened.
Food for Thought: When you look through the eyes of your heart, what do you see?
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body
When you look through the eyes of your heart, what do you see?
A beautiful Wife that knows the Lord.
Actually I see that with my physical eyes too.
Tim –
You are very blessed my friend! Enjoy the boundless riches of Christ!
At first I was going to respond how my heats eyes first see all the lost souls that need to be saved the sadness and evil that is causing so much hurt, how evil and sin have corrupted people in the world. How my eyes were blind to Truth. But with all that I do get a glimpse of something amazing, I get to see a reflection in others. That reflection brings me joy, peace, and so much more that I’m grateful for. I’m blessed to see Christ in others.
Tim,
Your words reflect the heart of Christ.
“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
(1 Timothy 2: 3-4)
When you look through the eyes of your heart, what do you see?
When I ponder “the eyes of the heart” I think of perception. Perceptions of the past, present, and future. When my back is turned to Jesus, I cast a shadow on my own perception, and fear usually thrives there. When I keep my “eyes” on Jesus, I am looking into the light, and fear vaporizes, and I see His peace.
Seems to me that when looking through the eyes of heart, you see see either fear or peace.
The thought that keeps popping in my head is “where do lust, greed, and covantneous” fit into fear, because you see those too through the eyes of the heart. The “desire to take something that doesn’t belong to you.” I think that is the original FOMO. That the fear is that someone else has better than me, so they are “more worthy” and I will take it from them, so they are lesser and I am more.
Keeping the eyes of your heart on Jesus, you begin to see greater need in those around you. You want to give rather than take. There is no fear of loss, because you can see all has been given to you by God, through Jesus Christ.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Chris,
Excellent analysis! Thank you! You have also pointed out the reason we choose to keep our eyes on Jesus.
I had to look up FOMO – “Fear of missing out.” It is a strange fear, yet very prevalent. It sneaks up on us in different forms and can be truly debilitating. Thankfully, our Lord and shepherd calls us back to him and comes for us when we are caught in the briars.
05-19-2023, When you look through the eyes of your heart, what do you see?
Our flesh is blind to the glory of God. We are surrounded in His creation which is defined by men who explain everything as being within the boundaries of what they teach as science.
Jesus tells us, “Seeing they do not see,” Matthew 13:13
When the servant of Elisha was fearful of the forces of man being assembled against them, Elisha prayed to God.
“And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” – 2 Kings 6:17
It is impossible for us to see what God is really doing when we are consumed by the circumstances of this world, giving events of this world priority over LIFE in the will of our sovereign Lord. We all need to have somebody we can trust to help us find peace as we see the activity of God in all things. To open the eyes of our hearts!
As believers the eyes of our hearts have been opened and we live in amazement each day as this new sight is being increasingly improved by God. We begin to see and live in His peace as His hand, His sovereignty in all things provides His rock solid foundation for LIFE to each of us.
I have been left in this world by God, to grow in Christ and as Elisha helped his servant to see reality, I am to help those brought to me by God, help them see what I see. Christ in me brings the needy. They are not pretty, often seen as repulsive by man’s standards, but Christ looks past the outside and what’s inside will respond to His truths expressed in His Love. Let Christ work through each of us as the eyes of our hearts look past the outside of people and allow Christ to minister to the inside of the needy created by God.
Nicely said, Ron!
I love the 2 Kings story about Elisha’s servant’s eyes being opened.
Thank you!
Isn’t that a great story God has preserved for us. We studied OT this past year and what an awesome view of the reality we live in.
Continued Blessings!
Ron
I see some excellent points in the comments. Thank you. I really have nothing to add. If I had to answer your question today in one word, it would be “truth.” People have bought so many lies and they need to see truth. God’s truth. Jesus is the truth (John 14: 6). The eyes of the unregenerate heart is deceived and deceitful (Jeremiah 17: 9). The eyes that are regenerated by the Holy Spirit see His truth. Thus, we must walk in the Spirit and utilize the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2: 16.
Rich,
You make a powerful point! Ultimately, when we look at God through the eyes of our heart, we are seeing Truth. Well said!