Verse of the Day 9/29
Ephesians 1:18-19 the eyes of your understanding[a] 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, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power New King James Version (NKJV)
My read through the Bible plan this morning brought me through Ephesians chapters 1 and 2 and as I read the passages one word jumped out at me in two places, the word was "toward". Here in verse 19 we read of "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe" and in chapter 2 verse 7 Paul speaks of "the exceeding riches of His grace toward us in Jesus Christ."
Yesterday we considered how "in Christ" we have redemption and forgiveness and today we need to realize and experience His power available to us and His grace and kindness towards us.
Paul is praying that the eyes of our understanding, or the "eyes of our hearts", made popular in song would be open to what Jesus has for us, which are His grace and His power. We have the opportunity to be His "channels" through which they flow. If we are truly in Him, He will lead us into understanding. We, who were spiritually dead (v. 2:4) have been made alive (v.5) through His kindness towards us. If we live with that understanding we can and will be His channels.
- How I praise Thee, precious Savior,
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.- Refrain:
Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.
- Just a channel full of blessing,
To the thirsty hearts around;
To tell out Thy full salvation,
All Thy loving message sound.
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.
- Refrain:
Channels only, blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.
To the thirsty hearts around;
To tell out Thy full salvation,
All Thy loving message sound.
"see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!" The Message
Blessings,
Mike
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Ephesians 1:15-23The Message (MSG)
15-19 That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
20-23 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
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