Do We Know What God Longs For (in Us)?
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
(Ephesians 1: 18-21 NASB)
Have we ever stopped long enough to ask ourselves an important question? Maybe you are thinking, “Well, what question do you mean?”
Have we ever stopped in our pursuit of “living a full life” to ask: Will our lives be filled with works that Will NOT outlive us?
Whoa, now!
Works that outlive our lives here on earth—Is that even possible?
The other day, I walked with the “aunts” through a church cemetery. Mom was there too, and one of my sisters. Here’s the important thing: All the people buried within that cemetery (and every cemetery in the entire world) are dead. It’s true. There is no way to be buried within the earth and remain breathing (alive here on earth) at the same time. We only bury the dead.
Now, maybe you are reading this and thinking, “There’s nothing new here,” but wait, maybe there is a truth God wants us to realize, to see.
Will our lives be filled with works that won’t outlive us?
Do We Know What God Longs for in Us?
“so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, . . .”
Everyone is called to be a child of God; some accept His calling, but some do not. For those who say “Yes” to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, then God has one plan (collectively) for us—To bring heaven to earth through our lives. How are we doing with “the hope of His calling, . . .”?
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, . . .”
As God’s child, we are to reveal to the world the great treasure found in the relationship given to us in the Holy Spirit. We never walk alone, and we know this to be true. Our task is to share this fact, this truth, this assurance, this promise—with the world!
In order to do so, we must see the world of people surrounding us through spiritual and not earthly eyes. We must see people as Jesus saw people. We must not see skin color, socio-economic standing, educational background, or any other “earthly” status. We must know the heart of God “moment-by-moment” as we walk through every day. HOW? We might ask ourselves: How can we ever do this? We can—ONLY—if we ask ourselves a question: What does God want? The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the saints living in Ephesus, words that we read, even today in the 21st Century. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, . . .”
Will our lives be filled with works that won’t outlive us?
OR
Will our lives be filled with the works of the Holy Spirit that WILL outlive our lives?
Do We Know What God Longs for in Us?
“the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, . . .”
Yesterday, I walked into a local business, and during the course of conversation, I learned that someone young died and immediately faced her eternal decision. A freak accident, it seems, but with God, our death-date was established even before our lives began. The psalmist David tells us so within the Word of God. Yesterday, that reality settled deep within me as I thought of the tragedy of loss this one’s family must now face.
It is a truth, if we desire to go “deeper with God,” we must allow our spiritual eyes to be opened today. We must SEE JESUS today & every day of our lives to SEE “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, . . . .”
Why would we ever want our lives filled with works that won’t outlive us?
WE SHOULD NOT—EVER—DESIRE THIS KIND of LIFE!
We should want our lives filled with the works of the Holy Spirit that will outlive our lives!
We should allow our lives to be filled with “Yes LORD” for every decision we face as we walk throughout our days!
We should want to reveal the Great Treasure found in walking within a relationship with God’s Holy Spirit directing our steps!
We Must Know What God Longs for in Us!
“the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. “
It is truly time for us (for God’s children) to get serious in our devotion to our LORD. Would you not agree?! It is imperative that we see the fullness, the greatness, and the awesome responsibility we have been given to reveal JESUS to the world. We are given relationship with GOD All Because of the SACRIFICE of JESUS!
Help us, LORD, to live for YOU today, not for what can be seen but for what is unseen.
Help us, FATHER, live not for our own legacy, but for YOURS!
Help us, Lord JESUS, keep our eyes Totally Upon YOU as we walk throughout this single day.
Help us, HOLY SPIRIT, keep attune to the decision, the works, the reactions, the prayers, the words, the EVERYTHING that YOU will lead us to, in this single day GOD has gifted us to live.
God longs for us to grow—from baby to fully mature in Christ.
God longs for us to increase—in spiritual maturity.
God longs for us to mature—in His sanctification.
God longs for us to learn—to live Within HIS Presence.
God longs for us to listen—to His Voice as we take every step.
God longs for us to love—others as Jesus taught us to love.
God longs for us to be totally—“Sold Out” to Him—No Matter What!
The 19th Century American author Nathaniel Hawthorne had something to say about the way we walk through our time here on earth. Although he is merely a common man like us, his words do reveal a truth we should consider.
“No man [or woman], for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself [or herself] and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.”
So, Will we live one way at home and another in public?
So, Will we live, fully cognizant that we are FOREVERMORE in God’s Presence?
So, Will our lives be filled with works that won’t outlive us?
So, Will the works of God we do today outlive our lives here on earth?
So, Will the day come (when our bodies are cremated or buried in the ground of a cemetery) that those who remain alive—think of us and exclaim, “I know that he (or that she) is now in paradise with the LORD!”
Let Us Know What God Longs for in Us!
“and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
(Ephesians 1: 19-21 NASB)
Nancy Dear, you are such a blessing to me today. For some reason I couldn’t get yesterday’s message till today . I got both today.and love both but I think yesterday’s really speaks to me and remains in my mind. How long will my testimony last when I’m gone ? I. Have been thinking of that a lot lately. Thank you for your insight. Thank aunt Verne.