Ephesians 1:18

By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones) (Ephesians 1:18 AMP).

Paul is stating that it is only when our hearts are flooded with light that we can expect to know and understand the hope to which God has called us and be able to comprehend the richness of our glorious inheritance.  It stands to reason, then, that our job is to facilitate whatever it takes to “flood our hearts with light.”  Here are just a few ways that Scripture tells us we will have a clear and illuminated path:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105 NKJV).

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5 NKJV).

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV).

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2 NKJV).

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV).

I could probably keep going, but this is enough to chew on for today.  The idea here is that Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus so that their hearts would be flooded with light, but the believers were also responsible to keep the Word of God as a lamp, to stay connected to the Vine, to keep themselves unspotted from the world, to cleanse themselves from worldly lusts and passions, to renew their minds, and to set aside every sin and weight that would hinder them from receiving the light of God in their hearts.  This is a co-laboring effort.  God has given us a glorious inheritance, but it is up to us to search it out and discover the depth of His love and goodness.  That takes more than a casual effort; it takes a real passion and pursuit.

Lord, today I need you to increase my faith and give me a passion for you alone.

Check out Gennarino's devotional on this verse at:  Ephesians 1:18.