Ephesians 1:15-23 (NIV)
Read by: Lauren Ann Watka
In today’s passage Paul prays that the Lord would open the eyes of the Ephesians' hearts. It’s hard to imagine Paul talking about eyes being opened without thinking back to his first encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts chapter 9. He met the risen Jesus there and was blinded for three days, until Ananias came and prayed for him to regain his sight. And it says that “he rose, was baptized, (which is an image of the resurrection) and, taking food, was strengthened.”
Later in Acts 9 there is another story of eyes being opened. A disciple named Tabitha had died. And after Peter prayed for her she was raised back to life! The text says “she opened her eyes… and Peter gave her his hand and raised her up.” These two passages could tell us a lot about what Paul means when he prays that the Ephesians would have the eyes of their hearts opened to know the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
----------REFLECT----------
1. What encouraged you about this passage?
2. Asking that the eyes of our hearts would be open implies that there might be something that has them blinded. Paul asks that for this they would receive the Spirit, who gives wisdom and revelation. The Greek word for “revelation” is apokalypseos which means to open or uncover. Right now, ask the Spirit to open, uncover, reveal or apocalypse what your heart might be blind to today.
3. Jesus is seated far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked. These days it can feel like that is not the case, but therein lies the need for Paul's prayer--that we would see it. What difference would it make in your life, if you lived out of the knowledge that Jesus truly is in charge? What would you do differently today?
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Bible Project Podcast: New Testament Letters >>
Bible Project Video: New Testament Letters: Historical Context >>
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Bible Project Video: Ephesians >>
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