The Hope of His Calling
(Paul's Prayer, Part 2)
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1: 18
Today, we shall meditate on Paul’s second prayer request for the Ephesian Church, namely, that their heart may be enlightened so that they may know the hope to which God has called them. Here, then, are a few points worth noting from this prayer:
God has called you. You have been chosen by God specially and specifically. Before you were born, God already knew you. Ephesians 1: 3-5, Jeremiah 1: 5-8; Jeremiah 31:2-3; 1 Peter 2: 9-10.
There is a hope to which God has called you: There is a definite purpose for which God has called you into Christ, your career, marriage, ministry etc. God is a God of purpose, plans and objectivity. Jeremiah 29:10-11. And yes, the purpose of God’s calling spans all areas of life. There is a divine hope, joyful anticipation for excellence that God has in mind for all aspects of your life.
God is only committed to His will or purpose. God is committed to what He starts. The purposes of the Lord shall be established. He works all things after the counsel of His own will. God is not committed to fulfill our will, no matter how noble or embellished they may appear to be. Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8: 28.
Only an “enlightened heart” can know God’s will or the hope of his calling. It takes divine enlightenment to know and understand the will of God, the hope of his calling in any given time or situation. And this calls for prayer and meditation. It demands listening to the Lord through worship, prayer, and meditation in God’s word. Colossians 1:9-11, Ephesians 1:18.
Knowing his will leads to living in his will. It’s not enough to know the hope of his calling, it’s also important to live in the hope of his calling; to allow God’s glorious purpose to be fulfilled in us and through us. Knowing his lead leads to living in his will. This requires leaning on the Spirit of God daily as we walk through life. Ephesians 5: 15-17, Romans 5: 5.
Christ, the hope of glory. Christ in us is the ultimate hope of our calling (Colossians 1: 27-28). We are called to become children of God through him (Ephesians 1: 3-5), to know him personally and intimately (Philippians 3: 7-10) , to conform to his image (Romans 8: 29, Ephesians 4: 13). In Christ dwells the fullness of the godhead bodily. To know Christ Jesus in his fullness is the wonderful hope of God’s call for all of us.
(Paul's Prayer, Part 2)
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1: 18
Today, we shall meditate on Paul’s second prayer request for the Ephesian Church, namely, that their heart may be enlightened so that they may know the hope to which God has called them. Here, then, are a few points worth noting from this prayer:
God has called you. You have been chosen by God specially and specifically. Before you were born, God already knew you. Ephesians 1: 3-5, Jeremiah 1: 5-8; Jeremiah 31:2-3; 1 Peter 2: 9-10.
There is a hope to which God has called you: There is a definite purpose for which God has called you into Christ, your career, marriage, ministry etc. God is a God of purpose, plans and objectivity. Jeremiah 29:10-11. And yes, the purpose of God’s calling spans all areas of life. There is a divine hope, joyful anticipation for excellence that God has in mind for all aspects of your life.
God is only committed to His will or purpose. God is committed to what He starts. The purposes of the Lord shall be established. He works all things after the counsel of His own will. God is not committed to fulfill our will, no matter how noble or embellished they may appear to be. Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8: 28.
Only an “enlightened heart” can know God’s will or the hope of his calling. It takes divine enlightenment to know and understand the will of God, the hope of his calling in any given time or situation. And this calls for prayer and meditation. It demands listening to the Lord through worship, prayer, and meditation in God’s word. Colossians 1:9-11, Ephesians 1:18.
Knowing his will leads to living in his will. It’s not enough to know the hope of his calling, it’s also important to live in the hope of his calling; to allow God’s glorious purpose to be fulfilled in us and through us. Knowing his lead leads to living in his will. This requires leaning on the Spirit of God daily as we walk through life. Ephesians 5: 15-17, Romans 5: 5.
Christ, the hope of glory. Christ in us is the ultimate hope of our calling (Colossians 1: 27-28). We are called to become children of God through him (Ephesians 1: 3-5), to know him personally and intimately (Philippians 3: 7-10) , to conform to his image (Romans 8: 29, Ephesians 4: 13). In Christ dwells the fullness of the godhead bodily. To know Christ Jesus in his fullness is the wonderful hope of God’s call for all of us.
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