… may be enlightened …
Summary: Paul prays that our hearts “may be enlightened.” Understanding what he means requires that we explore the different ways we see both the visible and invisible.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:18b – Light and Dark”Ephesians 1:18a – The View From Inside
I pray that the eyes of your heart …
Summary: Paul is writing from an understanding of our world that may be very different from the view of the world around us. Exploring our inner workings can help us understand why Paul writes what he does.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:18a – The View From Inside”Ephesians 1:17d – The Spiritual Sniffer
… so that you may know him better.
Summary: Continuing with the theme of the Spirit of revelation, we explore what it means to have the Holy Spirit and know what he reveals to us.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:17d – The Spiritual Sniffer”Ephesians 1:17c – The Coffee Catastrophe
… and [the Spirit of] revelation …
Summary: Throwing a party for someone you love is fun, but it can be a lot of work. Under the right circumstances, it can even involve moments of pure panic!
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:17c – The Coffee Catastrophe”Psalm 13:6 – How Long, Lord?
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Summary: Today was one of those days when I ran out of road before I ran out of things to do.
Continue reading “Psalm 13:6 – How Long, Lord?”Ephesians 1:17b – Wise Guy
… the Spirit of wisdom …
Summary: One of the gifts Paul prays for is a gift with a prestigious history in the Bible. Solomon prayed for the same gift, and the result of having that gift was a boon to the nation of Israel.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:17b – Wise Guy”Ephesians 1:17a – What Do You Want?
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you …
Summary: In this passage, Paul opens the door to a fascinating question: If you could ask the Creator of All Things for anything you wanted, what would you ask?
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:17a – What Do You Want?”Ephesians 1:16b – Spiritual Fellowship
… remembering you in my prayers.
Summary: In this passage, Paul makes note that he remembers the Ephesians in his prayers. Why God listens to Paul’s prayers and why it helps Paul to pray are both interesting topics to examine.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:16b – Spiritual Fellowship”Ephesians 1:16a – The Real Church
I have not stopped giving thanks for you …
Summary: Paul is thankful for those who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus uses the people in our lives to give us opportunities to serve, and reasons to be thankful.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:16a – The Real Church”Ephesians 1:15b – Indisputably Important
… ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people …
Summary: Paul says he heard about the church in Ephesus. This gives rise to questions about when he wrote his letter. Then his words that follow put those questions in their proper context.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:15b – Indisputably Important”