“I pray 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 his holy people,”
An amazing verse, this one — so much to say, and the message so obscured by language that we aren’t familiar with!
Enlightening the eyes of my heart? Paul is praying for this, because this is something I cannot do for myself. I need the work of the Holy Spirit for this.
Knowing the hope to which He has called me? That is, in a word, Eternal Life, the biblical definition of which is knowing and living in active connection with God, a life that starts right here and now. (See John 17:3 and 15:5)
And then, a bit more info about this life He has called me to: The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…
- “Riches” — overflowing abundance
- “Glorious” — that flows from and reveals His essential nature (love)
- “inheritance” — not earned in any way, but can only be received, as a gift
- “holy people” — set apart, separate from the world, as His own
So there we have it: Paul is praying for the Gospel message to take root in our hearts, so that we may live in (as in actually experience) the abundant love that God wants to gift to us.
I don’t know about you, but I would like some of that!!!