Living in the Spirit
November 23, 2017
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. –Ephesians 1:15-19
Revelation
- a (1): an act of revealing or communicating divine truth (2): God’s disclosure or manifestation of himself or of his will to humans
- a: an act of revealing or opening to view: the disclosing or discovering to others of what was before unknown to them*
What has God revealed to us? How open are we to revelation? Have we had an Aha! Experience lately? Ever? Communion with God is two ways. We must take the time to understand God’s responses.
I must confess I am stubborn. I usually wait until I am at my wit’s end before I seek the insight I need to deal with a complex issue. The most complex issues usually involve people. God created an interdependent world and expected us to develop it in such a way that we maximize the contributions of each of its citizens. A large variety of people with a diversity of skills are necessary to attain that purpose. Getting a large variety of people with a diversity of skills to work together productively is rather like herding cats. I have developed a great appreciation for really good coaches. They possess a keen sense of not only each individual on their team but how they can meld them together to win games. They are open to the revealing of each person’s talents, ways of communication, etc.
Investing our energies in getting angry at another because they do not do things the way we do them never helps. Using that same energy to seek revelations about others with whom we work to identify ways to work with them can result in the more productive use of our time.
Prayer: Lord, open our hearts to revelations that will enhance our ability to work as one with all your children. Amen.
* http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/revelation