Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Victory!”.
Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Key #3 Wisdom
A winning team knows how to take information and experience and combine it to pull off a strategy to out play their opponent. At times in a contest there are crucial moments where a decision has to be made to execute a play. The ability to make the right call is a mark of wisdom in the coach.
In the realm of religion, many belief systems claim to have the right truth, the right behavior, the right beliefs. It certainly takes wisdom to sort through something so important.
The disciples of Jesus, shortly before Jesus went back into heaven asked him, “Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
They still had an idea that Jesus was going to establish an earthly kingdom. Jesus didn’t try to explain it, he just told them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came on them. Then he ascended into heaven (pretty well squashing the idea he was here to establish an earthly kingdom!)
I can only imagine the conversation in heaven when the Spirit of God welcomes Jesus back and he is congratulated on completing the mission the Father sent him on. After the welcome, I picture Jesus turning to the Holy Spirit and saying, “I tried for 3 plus years to get these people to understand clearly my mission and purpose and what my kingdom was all about. Now it’s your turn. Perhaps you can give them the wisdom and insights they need to carry out the task of making disciples.
The Holy Spirit did just that and gave the Spirit of wisdom to the disciples. They understood more clearly. They moved forward more resolutely. They had wisdom from God’s Spirit to know Jesus, his work and impact more fully.
Key #4 Insight
Ephesians 1:18 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, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
A winning team has more insight than its opposition. They study films, have scouts, practice harder and more to gain the advantage. The coach wants to get his players to visualize winning, execute each play in their mind and experience the celebration win, even before it happens.
Paul is praying for the same insights for each of us to know we are on a winning team with Jesus:
- Know the hope to which he has called you. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” You have been called by the power of the Word to believe the truth that our hope of eternity is ONLY found in Jesus. You are on the team because God’s grace called you to the team.
- Know the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. Visualize the victory! Jesus has secured a wonderful inheritance in heaven for you! You can go through life with the confidence that the glory of heaven is guaranteed through Christ.
- Know the power at your disposal…more on this tomorrow as Paul explains it further. It’s incomparable!
At times it does seem like as Christians we are losing. Perhaps these two keys, “wisdom and insight” might be at the heart of a prayer for God to help you see how his truth applies in the situation (wisdom) and what truth he wants you to see in the situation (insight). Then as he grants you the Spirit of wisdom and the enlightenment of your hearts, you will see the obstacles Satan throws as opportunities and the seeming defeats as open doors.
Apply: What is a situation that you are dealing with today? What happens when you visualize the glorious riches of heaven God has promised you. How does that change your perspective on the issue with which you are dealing?
Prayer: God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, please give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know Jesus better. I pray also that you would enlighten the eyes of my heart in order that I may know the hope to which you have called me, the riches of Christ’s glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. AMEN.