Week of June 11
What Waldo Teaches Us about God’s Daily Presence
Read: Proverbs 30-31; Psalm 33; Ephesians 1
“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe”
Ephesians, 1:18–19, ESV
Introduction
The Ancient Greeks said, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” Understanding the world and our purpose in it does not come by pouring information into our minds, but by kindling a fire (transforming) in the heart. Paul knew this and he prays that the God of glory would give the Ephesians the Spirit of wisdom in the knowledge and revelation of Him. Paul has the source of enlightenment correct when he points to the heavenly Father’s essential being and His mercy. Let’s look and see how God enables us to live transformed lives.
The Meaning of the Text
The purpose behind our praise
Ephesians was written circa A.D. 62 during Paul's Roman imprisonment (Acts 28). A major emphasis of this letter is Christ’s lordship over the everyday world. Read again the two previous sentences. The prisoner is filled with praise for the God who rules over all that happens in this world. After Paul’s greeting to the Ephesians, he writes a lengthy section of ecstatic praise to God for the wonder of salvation (1:3-14). In fact, verses 3-14 are one long sentence in the Greek language!
The Apostle builds the entire paragraph with carefully constructed parallel clauses. Some even see the passage as a hymn with three stanzas of uneven length (HCBC)! I find it especially meaningful that the sentence begins with the word “blessed,” which means “praise be to.” He certainly knew how to write and sing praise songs in jail (Acts 16:15-26). We too can do no better than to begin our days with “Praise be to God!”
The word is reserved exclusively for God in the New Testament because He alone is worthy of worship. God is not selfish with His blessings. The verb that Paul uses to state that God “blesses” us carries a very specific meaning in the Old Testament, which includes a bestowal of some material good (cf. EBC). God’s benefits to us through Jesus Christ are more exclusively spiritual in this Ephesian context. We know this to be the case because they are communicated to us through the Holy Spirit. These words of praise describe the indescribable magnificence of God’s affection toward sinners like you and me. All of this, and yet there is more!
The Apostle builds the entire paragraph with carefully constructed parallel clauses. Some even see the passage as a hymn with three stanzas of uneven length (HCBC)! I find it especially meaningful that the sentence begins with the word “blessed,” which means “praise be to.” He certainly knew how to write and sing praise songs in jail (Acts 16:15-26). We too can do no better than to begin our days with “Praise be to God!”
The word is reserved exclusively for God in the New Testament because He alone is worthy of worship. God is not selfish with His blessings. The verb that Paul uses to state that God “blesses” us carries a very specific meaning in the Old Testament, which includes a bestowal of some material good (cf. EBC). God’s benefits to us through Jesus Christ are more exclusively spiritual in this Ephesian context. We know this to be the case because they are communicated to us through the Holy Spirit. These words of praise describe the indescribable magnificence of God’s affection toward sinners like you and me. All of this, and yet there is more!
Praise that leads to prayer
How could it be otherwise? When I praise, I find myself prepared to pray. Paul prays that these believers would be endowed fully with the Holy Spirit (1:17). He knew that God had already made provision for this gift (cf. Acts 2:1-4). He goes a step further and adds that they also need to be made alive with the “spiritual powers of wisdom and vision.” I believe He wants us to receive important insight and discernment that the Spirit gives into the mysteries of divine truth.
Wisdom is ongoing and revelation includes those “glances” into the truths of Christianity, into God’s will at moments and situations in life, into the human heart, and ultimately into eternal life. All too often we take a cognitive path alone toward understanding and applying God’s truths to our lives. This by itself robs us of God’s desire to teach us through a personal relationship. There is an important invitation here to pray the same for ourselves, for our children who come to know the Lord, and for our grandchildren!
Wisdom is ongoing and revelation includes those “glances” into the truths of Christianity, into God’s will at moments and situations in life, into the human heart, and ultimately into eternal life. All too often we take a cognitive path alone toward understanding and applying God’s truths to our lives. This by itself robs us of God’s desire to teach us through a personal relationship. There is an important invitation here to pray the same for ourselves, for our children who come to know the Lord, and for our grandchildren!
Spiritual vision for daily living
Paul also asks that God would give our “eyes” a new quality of illumination (1:18; “the eyes of your heart enlightened”). Paul uses a beautiful picture of the heart having eyes that look out toward Christ. The heart in the Bible is the seat of thought, moral judgment, and feeling. Here the heart relates to spiritual growth (sanctification), which is rooted in experience. This is something more than simple intellectual insight.
The Holy Spirit enhances our perception of God, His work in the world, and our path to take as we seek to follow His will. The Holy Spirit will enlighten us to our calling or “pledge of hope” (2 Timothy 1:9) and to the daily call to follow Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:12; 5:24; EBC). Secondly, the Spirit illuminates our minds to the riches that are ours in Christ. This inheritance is to be awarded in heaven. Thirdly, the Spirit helps us to see that the incomparable power of God is behind us to provide us with His strength for the Christian life (1:19). It was this same power that raised Jesus from the grave (1:20). We do not want to miss this incredible gift from God that comes wrapped in His Spirit!
The Holy Spirit enhances our perception of God, His work in the world, and our path to take as we seek to follow His will. The Holy Spirit will enlighten us to our calling or “pledge of hope” (2 Timothy 1:9) and to the daily call to follow Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:12; 5:24; EBC). Secondly, the Spirit illuminates our minds to the riches that are ours in Christ. This inheritance is to be awarded in heaven. Thirdly, the Spirit helps us to see that the incomparable power of God is behind us to provide us with His strength for the Christian life (1:19). It was this same power that raised Jesus from the grave (1:20). We do not want to miss this incredible gift from God that comes wrapped in His Spirit!
The Message for Our Lives
Where’s Waldo? You are no doubt aware of the books that challenge readers to find Waldo, a cartoon man, clothed in his red-striped shirt and stocking cap, as he hides in a landscape of proverbial red herrings! The phenomenon began more than thirty years ago, and readers are presented with page after page of scenes in which Waldo is cleverly hidden—in a blimp, in a crowd, on stairs, and everywhere imaginable. You’d think that he would be easy to spot, but he is not! Folks have tried to analyze and plot all of the places where Waldo has been found in order to help other people to find him more quickly. One person conceived of an approach that enables searchers to find him quickly 53% of the time. Those are not great odds.
Let’s ask a more important question: “Where’s the Lord?” Thankfully, we do not have to live a life that is successful half of the time (cf. 53%). The Lord, Himself, has made clear to us His will and way by giving us the Word of God and His Spirit. He is not hidden in a sea of faces and places. He has taken up residence in our hearts, and He is there to guide us each day. Simply pray, read, and apply God’s Word, and ask daily for His direction. The results will be illuminating!
Let’s ask a more important question: “Where’s the Lord?” Thankfully, we do not have to live a life that is successful half of the time (cf. 53%). The Lord, Himself, has made clear to us His will and way by giving us the Word of God and His Spirit. He is not hidden in a sea of faces and places. He has taken up residence in our hearts, and He is there to guide us each day. Simply pray, read, and apply God’s Word, and ask daily for His direction. The results will be illuminating!
For Thought and Action
1. I find it especially meaningful that Pentecost Sunday was observed the last Sunday in May. Perhaps you were unaware that the Lord has equipped you with His Spirit from the moment you were saved. Ask God’s Spirit each day for wisdom and discernment, and to guide your steps.
2. We have a vital call to pray for our children, our extended families, and our friends to know the Spirit’s enlightenment. God does not want any of His children to walk blindly through life. Pray daily for God’s Spirit to burn brightly in His followers.
3. For Families: Here is an interesting question for families: Does your family pray more often to God, to Jesus, or to the Holy Spirit? each of these persons are part of the Trinity, and each may be addressed in prayer. Share with your kids in different ways, and model in your prayers, that all of God comes to us when we trust in Him.
The Holy Spirit, for example, reveals His truth to us, helps us to understand scripture, convicts of sin and righteousness, pleads for us in Heaven when we cannot pray ourselves, gives us spiritual gifts, grants us spiritual power, comforts us, and illuminates our minds and hearts about the things of God. We can pray to the Holy Spirit of God for wisdom, like Larry has shared above, and He will fill us and make our paths straight. Try praying to the Holy Spirit this week, with your children, and see how you sense His leadership anew in your lives.
May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock
2. We have a vital call to pray for our children, our extended families, and our friends to know the Spirit’s enlightenment. God does not want any of His children to walk blindly through life. Pray daily for God’s Spirit to burn brightly in His followers.
3. For Families: Here is an interesting question for families: Does your family pray more often to God, to Jesus, or to the Holy Spirit? each of these persons are part of the Trinity, and each may be addressed in prayer. Share with your kids in different ways, and model in your prayers, that all of God comes to us when we trust in Him.
The Holy Spirit, for example, reveals His truth to us, helps us to understand scripture, convicts of sin and righteousness, pleads for us in Heaven when we cannot pray ourselves, gives us spiritual gifts, grants us spiritual power, comforts us, and illuminates our minds and hearts about the things of God. We can pray to the Holy Spirit of God for wisdom, like Larry has shared above, and He will fill us and make our paths straight. Try praying to the Holy Spirit this week, with your children, and see how you sense His leadership anew in your lives.
May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock
Posted in Pathway Devotionals