Enlightenment

The apostle Paul was once blinded to the spiritual truth about Jesus. It can be similar to us who try to read the bible for the first time.  We may understand the historical content or a story, but we are blinded to the truth and our spiritual understanding is foggy.  It actually can be frustrating and discouraging. Paul was so angry with those who followed Jesus that he raged against them. But one day, God chose to knock him off his high horse and blinded him by light. When Jesus spoke to him at that point, he believed.  (See Acts 9 for Paul's Conversion)  Later, when Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, it was personal. He knew that in order for them to understand spiritual truth, they needed the spirit of God to enlighten their eyes. Otherwise, God would have to knock them off their horses too! When you try to read the bible, pray to God to help you understand. I know He will help. Today's devotional;

  New Eyes

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope . . . the riches of His glorious inheritance. —Ephesians 1:18

A college student I met had recently placed her faith in Christ. She described her initial life-change this way: “When I trusted Christ for salvation, it felt like God reached down from heaven and placed a new set of eyes in my eye sockets. I could understand spiritual truth!”

It was moving to hear how her encounter with the Savior brought new spiritual perception. But her experience is not unique. Everyone is endowed with spiritual sight when they trust Christ as their Savior. Yet, at times a “fog” rolls in and our spiritual vision becomes cloudy and unclear. That happens when we neglect our relationship with Him.

In Paul’s fervent prayer for believers’ spiritual sight, we see how important it is to fully appreciate all that God has done and will do for us through Christ. He prayed that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened that we “may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18).

Each believer has been given new eyes to discern spiritual truth. As we keep our hearts tuned to God, He will help us to see with our spiritual eyes all that He has given to us in Christ. —Dennis Fisher

I once was blind but now I see!

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