Our Need to Know

Since I was young, it was a practice in my household to pray together as a family before bed.  Many of our prayers, though extempore, tended to be very similar day to day.  After a while I could almost predict what others would pray!  So I made it a point to try to switch up the words I would say, even if the subject matter remained the same.

I have been impacted during my recent study of Ephesians by the things Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers.  Most of my prayers in my youth and in adulthood tended to deal with temporary subjects:  giving thanks, asking for help for a problem, or interceding on behalf of others.  The focus of Paul's prayer revealed a priority on spiritual blessings which are enduring and essential.  When Paul prayed for the Ephesians he did not pray the way I would if I knew people were being persecuted, under threat of violence, and in need of support.

This is a portion of what Paul prayed in  Ephesians 1:15-19:  "Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power..."

See the things Paul prayed for!  After giving thanks for the Ephesians, he asked God they would be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, having their understanding enlightened, that they would know what is the hope of his calling, the riches of His inheritance, and the exceeding greatness of His power towards believers.  When you pray for others, does this resemble your prayers for them at all?  For me not so much.  But God-willing my prayers shall continue to develop to reflect absolute faith in God's power and sovereignty, increased knowledge of God, and great value of enduring spiritual blessings given us through Christ.  There are things that are important we know, even as it is important for God to do.  Once we better know the things Paul prayed for, I believe it will change how and what we pray.

Living in Light of Reality

What we believe and what we say we believe can be two different things.  We say we trust God, but the worry and fear we struggle with says we don't - at least not as much as we say we do.  We say we believe God's divine Word, yet we do not always obey it or seek guidance from it.  We ask for God to intervene and "do" something, ignoring the fact He is working through that situation to accomplish plans we know nothing about.  We are a funny bunch who desperately need Jesus to open our eyes and provide understanding of God's Word so we might know Him.

The disciples of Jesus mourned His death on Calvary.  They had believed He was the promised Messiah, but His death was an unexpected and shocking end to the dream Jesus would someday sit on a throne.  From our vantage point with the benefit of the historical account we might smirk at the women finding the tomb empty, the apostles not believing their testimony, or the morose disciples trudging 7 miles to Emmaus.  Ah, ye of little faith - coupled with ignorance of the Law, prophets, and Psalms we might say to ourselves.  But are we any wiser, stronger, or spiritually savvy?  Nope.

In Luke 24 there is an insightful portrayal of the disciples sadly walking to Emmaus mourning their deceased sovereign when He met them in the flesh on the road.  They didn't even realise it was Jesus with whom they conversed.  It was only as they ate a meal together the veil of ignorance was peeled away in Luke 24:30-31:  "Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight."  Their eyes were open during the whole walk and as they conversed and ate with one another:  it took Jesus opening their eyes so they were enabled to recognise and know Him.

Praise the LORD Jesus opens the eyes of the blind - and the eyes of ignorant, senseless, and unbelieving believers as well.  He opens our eyes, not just so we can rattle off facts, but so we might know Him.  After their eyes were opened the disciples rushed 7 miles back to Jerusalem to share the awesome news and confirm the resurrection of Christ Jesus.  This moves to a second purpose of their eyes being opened:  that they might know Him and make Him known to others.  Too often we can limit the context of sharing Christ to people who are unbelievers, but believers need a revelation of Jesus as well.  Suddenly Jesus stood in the midst of the amazed believers in Jerusalem, and they could hardly believe for joy.

May God open our eyes so we might know Him and make Him known.  Then we will live in light of the reality of His life and the power of His resurrection.

The Silent Times

It struck me yesterday how on several occasions Jesus remained silent when addressed.  Ignoring people seems impolite, but as the supreme God Jesus was never under any obligation to speak - especially to those who did not believe He was the Son of God and refused to trust Him.  If they would not listen or believe the words He spoke, why bother?  Many times Jesus spoke truth to people who did not heed Him because He is gracious, but His unexpected silences have me thinking.

I do not assume I know exactly why Jesus remained silent, but the Bible relates many times when He was.  When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Him by the scribes and Pharisees, He stooped and wrote on the ground as if He did not hear.  When questioned by Pilate, Jesus was rebuked for not answering the one who had "power" to release him.  He was also brought before King Herod who was keen to see Jesus, and hoped to see a miracle done by Him.  Luke 23:9 says, "Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing."  All these interactions were attempts to put Jesus on the spot by people who refused to follow Jesus, minds which were stubbornly opposed to faith in Christ.

We are blessed to have the testimony of the Bible, for there is much recorded of the things Jesus said and did.  He said to His disciples in Matthew 7:6, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."  Dogs and pigs are not capable of sanctifying what is holy or treasuring valuable items.  It is not in the nature of animals to discern and appreciate such things, and both dogs and swine were unclean for eating under the Law.  Jesus warned against entrusting holy things to unholy people, and all it would do is agitate them.  Jesus set a good example by following His own commands.

Sometimes in our Christian walks there can be periods of silence, times where the LORD seems strangely quiet.  King Saul found the LORD did not answer Him because he had disobeyed God without repentance and sought honour for himself.  I believe Christians also can have seasons of the "silent treatment," so to speak, times when God withholds clear directives because we are acting similar to the Pharisees, Pilate, and Herod:  we are not trusting in Jesus, are testing Him, believe we are in control, and we want to see a miracle.  We are the ones who can resemble snarling dogs and wallowing pigs and in an unrepentant, fleshly state incapable of responding to the wisdom of God honourably and obediently.  Praise the LORD He is gracious to speak and when we repent, obey, and look to Jesus in faith we find ourselves hearing Him speak:  "Well done, good and faithful servant.  Follow me!"

We Have Opportunities

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Galatians 6:9-10

The farmer sows seed knowing the process of planting, growing, tending, and harvesting crops will take time.  Walking in obedience to God doesn't always bring the tangible results or changes we hope for, and we can wonder if our efforts could be better spent.  Paul exhorted the believers in Galatia to persevere through seasons when there doesn't seem to be much growth or fruitfulness, trusting God will make us fruitful according to His plans and purposes.  He said, "As you have opportunity, let us do go to all."

The Greek word translated "opportunity" is most often translated "time" (64 times) and "season" (13 times), and when I think of opportunities I think of chances - often which can be unplanned.  A few months ago I had the opportunity to go to a Grand Final match, but because of the late notice I was unable to attend.  I could have attended, but it would have negatively impacted other plans I had made.  Opportunities can be inconvenient, involve a degree of risk, and seem to impose themselves upon us.  We all have opportunity to do good as long as we remain on this planet, for God has provide time to invest in loving and serving others.  It is good for us to be prepared for opportunities by determining to seize them when they arise, even when inconvenient or unexpected.

We are not at the mercy of others or the overwhelming amount of needs in the world, for we look to Jesus for strength and guidance.  It is true our resources and time are limited, but it is good for us to be willing to give of our time to seek the LORD and bless others - even when there is no promise of reward, compensation, or recognition.  Let us do good to all as unto the LORD, knowing He will cause us to reap in due time.  Those who are of the "household of faith" are to receive special care from us, for we are part of the same Body of Christ, the church.  Jesus was willing to enter the constraints of time and a human body and did good to all, and He is our glorious example.