NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Mark 15-Luke 1
SCRIPTURE READING
Eph 1: 15-18 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and
your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you
in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a
spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 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.
It has probably has been a few years since Paul has been with the Ephesians therefore
Paul writes that he has heard of their enduring faith in the Lord and their subsequent love
towards all the saints. We should love the saints because God loves them. Paul is thankful
for their faith in Jesus and the love that they have for all the saints. He prays for them
regularly, verse 17 gives us a glimpse into what Paul is praying for them.
Paul intercedes for them to receive a spirit that is rich in wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of Jesus Christ. He wants the Ephesians to really know God, the Father of
glory, in connection with His only Son, Jesus Christ. Paul prays for the illumination of
their understandings, and that their knowledge might increase and abound and that God
would reveal to them the deep things of God. In verse 18, Paul prays that the eyes of their
hearts would be enlightened, our eyes first need to be opened by His Spirit and then we
can become enlightened, all through His Spirit. The heart used here means the innermost
center of man; it’s the seat of understanding and the source of thoughts, desires, emotions,
words and actions. Whatever rules the heart will rule the conduct of a man. Paul is praying
that the Ephesians would understand the hope to which He has called them and the
abundance of their eternal blessings in Christ. We can learn much for Paul’s prayer as we
use it as a model for our own prayer lives.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Can you honestly say that you have enduring faith and love towards fellow believers?
Ask the Lord if there is anyone whom you need to seek forgiveness.
2. Pray, as Paul prayed, for an increase in spiritual revelation and wisdom, that you would
really know God, that the Spirit would open your eyes.
