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Daily Devotions

Ephesians

Ephesians 
Day 
Day 46

"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."

Text: Ephesians 1:18

THE GIFT OF NATURAL SIGHT

Sight is a gift we often take for granted. To the visually impaired, the granting of healing is a gift to be truly treasured. The Gospel of Mark recorded the story of Blind Bartimaeus who because of his blindness was reduced to begging. When he heard that the Lord Jesus was in the vicinity he cried out with all his might,

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”
MARK 10:47

The multitude who thronged Jesus was indignant that this blind beggar kept shouting out to Jesus for help. The response of the crowd must have been so startling that Mark noted it.

“Then many warned him to be quiet…”
MARK 10:48A

What did the multitude of people who had sight know about what it means to be blind? How could they understand how Bartimaeus longed to be made whole? Against the wishes of the crowd, Bartimaeus

“Cried out all the more;
‘Son of David, have mercy on me!'”
MARK 10:48B

It seemed nothing and no one could stop Bartimaeus from calling out the name of Jesus for mercy! Kindly, Jesus ceased what He was doing and had a little conversation with him.

“What do you want Me to do for you?”
MARK 10:51A

There was only one thing Bartimaeus desired. With all his heart he cried out,

“Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
MARK 10:51B

The reply of Jesus was both kind and instructive. He perceived the faith of Bartimaeus. Though he was blind he could recognize who Jesus was. To Bartimaeus, Jesus was both the Messiah and the Teacher.

“Then Jesus said to him,
‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’
And immediately he received his sight and
followed Jesus on the road.”
MARK 10:52

THE GIFT OF SPIRITUAL SIGHT

There is another gift that is also taken too much for granted- spiritual sight. A story from the Old Testament would serve to illustrate the significance of the gift of spiritual eyes. To the frightened servant of Elisha who was afraid of the Syrian army, this prayer was offered.

“And Elisha prayed, and said,
‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’
Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.
And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire
all around Elisha.”
2 KINGS 6:16-17

The prayer of the apostle Paul was essentially for the Spirit of God to give light to the Ephesian Christians so that they might be able to have deep spiritual sight.