OPEN THE EYES OF OUR HEARTS (SEGMENT I)

SCRIPTURE: "'In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.' 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding 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 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:13-21

Blindness is an almost universal disorder  wherever and however you acquire the news, sourced from all matter of influencers from institutions of higher learning, to executive, judicial, and legislative bodies within government, across different venues of art and entertainment, and even within the various species of our spiritual and religious orders.

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul offers a prayer within the substance of his discourse: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened..." This was offered to Ephesian believers who  were subject to the cultural and social influences of the occult, especially those who worshiped Diana [or Artemis] as a goddess. Indeed the temple of Artemis was described as one of the seven wonders of the world, and as the waterways became unmanageable in Paul's time, tourism and trade associated with Artemis worship became the chief means of economic survival. Commerce derived from shipping had ceased.  While Artemis worship was the main attraction, which also coincided with an increase of magic and sorcery, as well as the proliferation of prostitution. This is the setting by which a fledgling 'church' had its beginnings. Rome, as overseer, was not a friend.

Our manner of contemporary blindness isn't much different, and neither is the call upon believers today: we have to see clearly, before we can rightly touch others. Open the eyes of our heart, Lord! And with such a revival, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" Matthew 5:16.  "O' taste, and see that the Lord is good"  Psalm 34:8a. We are invited to 'see’ and then 'be' His witnesses!

PRAYER: Dearest God, thank You for the blessing of Yourself in this life, and the lifting that comes of knowing You, in Christ Jesus. May today's walk reflect the appreciation for Your unlimited grace and highly specialized mercy towards me and towards mine. Guide me to bless You today. Quicken within me that which is given, to the blessing of others. In Psalm 36:9  You've offered, "For with Thee is the fountain of life; In Thy light we see light." Open the eyes of my heart, I pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
By Bro. Brockington