Hope: As It Is in Heaven, So Be It on EarthSample

Welcome to day 3 of our daily devotions focusing on Hope. Today, we look at Ephesians 1: 18-19. Paul continues his prayer …

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power”

“What’s the view like from up there?” The one young man shouted to the other while climbing up the steep staircase that leads to the top of the Lighthouse. After a while, the answer came back: “Come and see for yourself.” A view can be so beautiful that words or even pictures cannot do it justice. You have to see it for yourself. Keep this picture in mind as we continue with Paul’s prayer.

It seems as if Paul’s readers were lacking in hope because after thanking God for their faith and love earlier, he now prays for them to know the Hope of God’s calling.

I would think that if people lacked in hope, Paul should teach them about it. But he knows better. He prays for them. This doesn't mean that knowledge is not important. On the contrary, that is precisely what he prays for understanding, insight, and knowledge.

But he begins with prayer because it is God who brings insight into the hope of His call. This is what revelation means: God helps people to see what they normally wouldn’t see. And, to continue yesterday’s theme, this insight into hope doesn’t happen by itself. It comes through beholding the glory of Christ. The breathtaking view – or, more accurately said, “breath-giving view” – that calls you to come and see for yourself. Nobody can behold on your behalf. “Beholding” asks you to be totally present.

How do we behold? Where do we start? We learn from Paul to begin with prayer. One of the reasons Paul writes how he praises God - remember the long praise sentence - and now what he prays for is to help us to pray. It is in prayer that we present ourselves to behold Christ. And it is through prayer we also work with God to gain insight into the hope He is calling us for. When God works, He makes us His partners and empowers us to be just that: Co-workers. The power comes from Him, but the work in us to grow in this knowledge, and also the work in the world to bring hope, is something we do with Him.

Let’s pray with Paul: Praise to you, Father God, for blessing us in Christ with everything we need to grow in faith, love, and hope. Enlighten the eyes of our understanding through your Spirit that we may know the hope of your calling as we behold Jesus. For your glory, we pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.