12 July 2023 - Flooded with Light

Ephesians 1:4(AMP) just as He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and blameless in His sight.

Ephesians 1:17-19(AMP) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation into the true knowledge of Him . And that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened , so that you will know and cherish the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), and what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength.

Paul prayed in Ephesians that the eyes of our understanding would be flooded with light so that we would know the amazing future God has in store for us.

Paul requested that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened. John Calvin writes: “Till the Lord opens them, the eyes of our heart are blind. Till the Spirit has become our instructor, all that we know is folly and ignorance. Till the Spirit of God has made it known to us by a secret revelation, the knowledge of our divine calling exceeds the capacity of our own minds.”

In Luke 11:36(NLT) Jesus said: If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.

This is how it is translated in the Message translation Luke 11:36 (MSG) “Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.”

Matthew 5:16(NIV) In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

In Acts 26:18a(NIV) Paul explains to king Agrippa that God’s purpose for the Gentiles was: to open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,

Acts 26:17-18(MSG) “‘I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.’

I conclude with a song by Michael W Smith, Open the eyes of my heart: “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see You. I want to see You. To see You high and lifted up. Shinin' in the light of Your glory. Pour out Your power and love. We cry holy, holy, holy. You are holy, holy, holy. I want to see you.”