I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and His incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.--Ephesians 1:18-20
If I interpret this correctly, Faith = Power.
Faith, which is a gift from God, provides a gateway through which He downloads the very same power He employed to raise Christ from the dead. This, indeed, is the 'incomparably great' power to which this verse refers.
The Greek word for "heart" here is "kardios," and means inward illumination or visceral understanding: a knowledge, then, that comes through faith.
Faith brings understanding, not intellectual acknowledgement, but something deeper.
This is why God wants me to have faith. He does not look for some kind of rock star adoration. He does not want me to throw my intelligence to the curb. He does not want a mimicking automaton. Instead, He knows that faith connects me to Him in a way nothing else can. Faith plugs me into His power and through that connection, brings the glory and joy He always intended for me and still wants for me.
Faith, my friend, brings power. The same power He used to raise Jesus Christ also raises me.
I would click the "like" button if there was one. :)
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ReplyDeleteThanks, Fishbone. Still trying to figure out how I could have missed this basic truth for so long.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar realization I had when I read CS Lewis's "That Hideous Strength."
ReplyDeleteI knew that it was not just the epitome of knowing, but understanding. The deepest of intellect and wisdom is found in God.
It's an amazing realization! :)
To complete that thought, we don't need to made to feel like our "religion" is a "crutch" so that we don't have to use our intelligence. Because, as stated before, it is the epitome of intellect--the highest and most important knowledge!
ReplyDeleteNot only is the deepest wisdom found in God, faith is the key to it. Faith and God are connected in a two-way relationship. I believe, and God imparts His power. Faith is not a passive adoration to an all-seeing eye. It literally connects me to God.
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