“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:18, NLT)
Every now and then when reading your Bible, you will come across words that don’t make sense at first glance. Today’s scripture contains something that seems odd to modern thought. Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18 that the Christians in Ephesus would have “their hearts flooded with light” in order to “understand” the gospel message. Modern educational systems are fully aware that a person’s understanding and knowledge come from thinking with the brain, not with thinking from the heart! However, in ancient times, it was believed that a person thought with the heart. Ancient understanding saw the heart as the source of wisdom and knowledge. The heart was known in ancient times as the “seat of understanding”. We now know that the brain is the source of these things. However, that doesn’t change the meaning behind today’s scripture. Here in Ephesians, Paul is hoping for those good people in Ephesus to find “understanding”. How would they do this? By God “flooding” them with spiritual light to bring divine wisdom. Essentially, Paul was hoping these Christians would let the Holy Spirit shine a light on their spiritual lives, bringing needed understanding to their relationship with God.
In cartoons and comics, authors and artists needed a way for people to get the concept of a person who “gets it”, who comes to a realization, who sees the point. These artisans came to the conclusion that the best way to show in a picture how a person figures something out was to show a light bulb shining over a person’s head. In essence, the lit bulb above the head conveyed the concept that a person could now see something that was previously unknown. Where previously the individual was “in the dark”, the bulb displayed the moment when the person “came to the light”, figured things out, had a revelation!
Even today, people will sometimes see a person “get the point” of a discussion and say to the person, “Ah, I see you got it. I could see the light bulb go on up there in your brain!” In the scripture for today, Paul wanted the Ephesian Christians to “get the point” that God wanted them to see their spiritual role in the battle of good versus evil. God wanted those faithful people to understand that the Holy Spirit reveals important information to those who believe (Ephesians 1:17!). Until they understood God’s purpose and plan, they would be “in the dark” spiritually. They could not understand important concepts like God’s power over evil (Ephesians 1:19) and the importance of Jesus’ resurrection (Ephesians 1:20). Without spiritual enlightenment, they would be susceptible to temptation and sin (Ephesians 2:1-2). Without God’s Spirit, they would be manipulated by worldly ideas that had captured the hearts and minds of so many in this world (Ephesians 2:3). Without God’s wisdom, even people today are blind to the truth and “in the dark” about how good and evil are at work all around them.
While on the computer one morning, Jerry decided to read the digital newspaper from the town where he grew up. One article caught his attention. It was a report about a local farm boy who worked with a large corporation to develop a new product for agricultural development. Jerry was impressed. As he read on, he was surprised to find out that the local farm boy was a neighbor of his growing up named Justin! Jerry sent out an email to see if his old neighbor would like to get together for a coffee at a deli on Main Street. Justin agreed to the meet.
When Jerry and Justin met, there was a warm handshake and smiles exchanged between the two. Though they hadn’t seen each other in over twenty years, their shared experiences growing up kept their conversation lively. At one point in their talk, Justin turned introspective and said, “You know, a lot of things have changed in society since we were kids. I used to think the government represented people. Now, I know they are often looking out for themselves. Before COVID, I thought doctors and hospitals and health care people cared most about helping people. Now, I’m concerned that they have been influenced heavily by corporations and Big Pharma. So much has changed. Some of the people I trusted had my back were not very loyal.” Jerry expressed some of the same concerns. As the two men continued their coffee break, they reflected deeply on the lessons they learned and the people who most inspired their journeys.
Like Jerry and Justin, you will discover that some things in life are an illusion. There are some people you can trust and some you cannot. Ideas you may have thought great at the time were flawed. Institutions you thought would be around forever failed. History you were taught in school may have been skewed. With time comes perspective. With wisdom and learning come deeper reflections, especially when the Holy Spirit is informing your heart and mind.
How does the Holy Spirit enlighten you? Prayer definitely changes you over time. Seeing things around you from God’s perspective and a biblical understanding affects your view of truth. If your relationship with God is deep, you will see spiritual things others are blind to. Wisdom will change your values. Knowledge from God will alter your way of thinking. Good and evil will become more apparent and visible.
2 Timothy 3:16, also written by Paul, is a reminder that Bible study and reflection are a great way to gain wisdom and understanding and enlightenment from God. Prayer and worship enhance one's perception. The presence of the Holy Spirit in heart and mind and soul brings all kinds of spiritual gifts and insight. Do you see what God wants you to see? Do you understand the depths of God’s power and love? Do you perceive the ways that evil attempts to corrupt your good intentions and twist the truth?
In cartoons and comics, authors and artists needed a way for people to get the concept of a person who “gets it”, who comes to a realization, who sees the point. These artisans came to the conclusion that the best way to show in a picture how a person figures something out was to show a light bulb shining over a person’s head. In essence, the lit bulb above the head conveyed the concept that a person could now see something that was previously unknown. Where previously the individual was “in the dark”, the bulb displayed the moment when the person “came to the light”, figured things out, had a revelation!
Even today, people will sometimes see a person “get the point” of a discussion and say to the person, “Ah, I see you got it. I could see the light bulb go on up there in your brain!” In the scripture for today, Paul wanted the Ephesian Christians to “get the point” that God wanted them to see their spiritual role in the battle of good versus evil. God wanted those faithful people to understand that the Holy Spirit reveals important information to those who believe (Ephesians 1:17!). Until they understood God’s purpose and plan, they would be “in the dark” spiritually. They could not understand important concepts like God’s power over evil (Ephesians 1:19) and the importance of Jesus’ resurrection (Ephesians 1:20). Without spiritual enlightenment, they would be susceptible to temptation and sin (Ephesians 2:1-2). Without God’s Spirit, they would be manipulated by worldly ideas that had captured the hearts and minds of so many in this world (Ephesians 2:3). Without God’s wisdom, even people today are blind to the truth and “in the dark” about how good and evil are at work all around them.
While on the computer one morning, Jerry decided to read the digital newspaper from the town where he grew up. One article caught his attention. It was a report about a local farm boy who worked with a large corporation to develop a new product for agricultural development. Jerry was impressed. As he read on, he was surprised to find out that the local farm boy was a neighbor of his growing up named Justin! Jerry sent out an email to see if his old neighbor would like to get together for a coffee at a deli on Main Street. Justin agreed to the meet.
When Jerry and Justin met, there was a warm handshake and smiles exchanged between the two. Though they hadn’t seen each other in over twenty years, their shared experiences growing up kept their conversation lively. At one point in their talk, Justin turned introspective and said, “You know, a lot of things have changed in society since we were kids. I used to think the government represented people. Now, I know they are often looking out for themselves. Before COVID, I thought doctors and hospitals and health care people cared most about helping people. Now, I’m concerned that they have been influenced heavily by corporations and Big Pharma. So much has changed. Some of the people I trusted had my back were not very loyal.” Jerry expressed some of the same concerns. As the two men continued their coffee break, they reflected deeply on the lessons they learned and the people who most inspired their journeys.
Like Jerry and Justin, you will discover that some things in life are an illusion. There are some people you can trust and some you cannot. Ideas you may have thought great at the time were flawed. Institutions you thought would be around forever failed. History you were taught in school may have been skewed. With time comes perspective. With wisdom and learning come deeper reflections, especially when the Holy Spirit is informing your heart and mind.
How does the Holy Spirit enlighten you? Prayer definitely changes you over time. Seeing things around you from God’s perspective and a biblical understanding affects your view of truth. If your relationship with God is deep, you will see spiritual things others are blind to. Wisdom will change your values. Knowledge from God will alter your way of thinking. Good and evil will become more apparent and visible.
2 Timothy 3:16, also written by Paul, is a reminder that Bible study and reflection are a great way to gain wisdom and understanding and enlightenment from God. Prayer and worship enhance one's perception. The presence of the Holy Spirit in heart and mind and soul brings all kinds of spiritual gifts and insight. Do you see what God wants you to see? Do you understand the depths of God’s power and love? Do you perceive the ways that evil attempts to corrupt your good intentions and twist the truth?