Opened Minds/Enlightened Hearts

Luke 24:44-53, Ephesians 1:15-23

Luke 24 tells of Christ’s Ascension into heaven but before he departs Jesus opens the minds of the disciples to understand the scriptures. He says that all the words written about him in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled and it was done so by the words Christ spoke to them while they were not only witnesses of his actions but also to his words. Christ opened their minds to understand how salvation had to be accomplished and how they need to go out and proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins. The CEV translates repentance calling it “a change of heart and life.”

He then tells them to stay in the city until the Father’s promise of being clothed with power from on high happens. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus leads them to Bethany and while blessing them he was carried off into heaven. They return to Jerusalem with great joy continually in the temple returning Christ’s blessing to them to God.

The author of Ephesians asks that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation as they come to know God. It is with this that the eyes of their hearts will be enlightened – lifted out of the dark, so they can perceive three “What is” statements. First “what is:” the hope to which God has called you. Our hope of salvation. Second: the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints. We are now children of God and will have eternal life. Third: the immeasurable greatness of his power for those who believe. The greatest example of God’s power was raising Christ from the dead and seating him at the right hand in heaven.

We today have been clothed with power from on high with the Holy Spirit that can open our minds to understand scripture as we read and study it. This is one of the ways we can be given a spirit of wisdom to come and know God. This is not just mind knowledge but the eyes of one’s heart will be enlightened to the wonderful blessings that the Lord gives. God gives us the hope that we are God’s children and that God has a special calling for each of us to help build up the body of Christ. God’s children are given a glorious inheritance of an eternal life with God. Then we have access to the greatness of God’s power. If God can raise Christ from the dead, God can empower our lives with hope that God will be with us to provide for our needs and to carry us through the rough times. Let us ask God to open our minds and enlighten our hearts so we can live out the life God has called us to do. Amen.

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