Warren Wiersbe relates the story of a preacher and deacon visiting a prospective member. As they drove up to their beautiful suburban home with gorgeous landscaping there were two expensive cars in the driveway. Through the picture window they saw their prospect relaxing in an easy chair watching a big screen TV.
The deacon turned to the preacher and asked, “What kind of good news do we have for him?”
Wiersbe correctly observed “how prone we are to confuse prices and values.” That man needed what the wealthy residents of ancient Ephesus needed. The Gospel.
To a people who lived in an “archeologist’s paradise” with one of the wonders of the ancient world, the temple of Diana, Paul offered this prayer:
“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, and his incomparably great power for us who believe….” (Eph. 1:18-19)
As we begin 2017 may our spiritual eyes be open, our heart receptive, and our knowledge enlightened in these three ways.
Know the hope.
Know the inheritance.
Know the power.
We are called to a higher hope than the any earthly expectation. Our future fortune is reserved in heaven’s riches. And the energy to achieve spiritual success is contained in the incomparable power of Jesus Christ.
Happy New Year!
–Ken Weliever, ThePreacherman
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