A STRANGE EXPRESSION

 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

 

Ephesians 1:18-19

¹⁸ 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, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

 

The eyes of the heart is a strange expression, isn't it? Eyes are the organ by which we observe things. The mind also has eyes. If you listen to truth in any area, the eyes of your mind are grasping ideas. But the apostle tells us here that not only does the mind have eyes, but the heart as well. The heart needs to see things, needs to grasp truth, and understand it. In Scripture, you may know this, the heart is always used to represent the center or "core" of our being, the place from which prayer and moral actions originate. The heart is also the place where you have your will, your attitude, and intentions, and which is the source of your thoughts, actions, and words.

So, the Apostle prays for the “eyes of your heart” to be opened and enlightened so that with the heart’s eye we, and all followers of Christ, will know the hope to which God has called us, and that we might know and see the incomparably great power of God.

One example of the eye’s of the heart being opened is found in Luke 24. Perhaps you recall the story of the walk to Emmaus when the risen Lord appears to the two disciples. Jesus joins them, but they don't know who He is. He walks along with them and reveals to them all the Scriptures concerning the promised Messiah. Do you remember after the experience of the journey with a stranger, who was Jesus, the two travelers said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (v. 32).

I believe that the burning of the heart represents the heart's eyes being opened. It is the igniting of the heart, so that it comes alive and is deeply moved. It is this burning of the heart that the apostle desires for these Ephesian Christians, and for us too. You see when the heart begins to burn with truth, when truth takes root in you and you simply must respond to it, that is when you know with certainty that God is real, that the hope of your calling is indisputable, that the power of God’s presence is available, and that the riches of His power to those who believe are made known.

I think what is important to note about all this is that it is not enough to intellectually know the concepts and teaching of God’s truth. When the eyes of the heart are enlightened, when truth is moved from the head down to the heart, to the "core" of our being, the place where you have your will, your attitude, and intentions, and which is the source of your thoughts, actions, and words. Then our hearts, our will is properly motivated, and begins to grow tremendously, understanding the hope and power that is ours as our glorious inheritance in Christ.

May your hearts be “strangely warmed”, and the “eyes of your heart” be opened.