Ephesians 1:18 – 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,

This verse teaches you that the proper understanding of divine realities is not dependent upon having a keen intellect, but rather on having a tender heart. It is a matter of the affections as well as of the mind. God’s revelations are given to those who love Him and have a heart for Him. This opens  wonderful possibilities for every believer, because you just need to have a loving heart toward God in order to receive from Him. As a Christian, you can have hope in many different things, but there is one hope that all Christians have in common, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him you find true hope and true riches that will withstand the test of time. Some Christians don’t know the true hope of His calling. They do not grasp the reality of heaven for those who believe. Consequently, they constantly strive for material things and are continually caught up in carnal pursuits. They are depressed and discouraged because they don’t see the big picture of eternity. If you find yourself unhappy, you will never become happy just by moving your location, or increasing your salary, or changing your place of employment. You will never be truly blessed until you know the hope of His calling.

Challenge:

Have you lost your hope somewhere along the way in this life? Have your eyes been fixed upon all the negative experiences you have been caught up in? Your challenge this week is to open your eyes to the real meaning of your existence and your final place of residence. While you are here on earth you are to please and obey God and then when you leave this earth you get to spend all of eternity in Heaven with Him. Which, in and of itself, should be enough to bring you a great amount of hope. Live each day as if Jesus was coming back right now and that will prepare you for His return and help you endure the pressures of this life. Make a point to do something every day that brings you a sense of joy. Kiss your kids, hold your spouse’s hand or hug your best friend. Take 30 minutes with a cup of coffee and just look out the window and take in the sights rather than stare into your phone or tablet. Take off your headphones and listen to the noise of life for a change. Do not let life pass you by this week. Take it all in and gain a renewed appreciation for your existence and for your purpose in being right where you this moment. Jesus died so you could live. So, do Him a favor and live this week. May God bless you.