【双语灵修】后果 The Consequences
“并且照明你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道他的恩召有何等指望；他在圣徒中得的基业有何等丰盛的荣耀。” - 弗 1:18
我的女婿不明白我们为什么会花那么多钱来买食物。他把身为空巢人士的我们的食物开支，与他们一家五口的开支比较时，感到大惑不解。当他们再来我家时，我建议他们留意我孙子的行踪。他们进屋后不到几分钟，食物储藏室的门被打开了，房子另一边的冰箱的门也被打开了。他一边大笑一边摇头。
我喜欢见到我的孙儿在我家感到自由自在，他们知道在哪里可以找到他们想要的和爱吃的零食。他们知道，在祖母的家中他们有这个特权，而他们的父母和朋友来家里时也是一样。
保罗为以弗所信徒祷告，他明白他们也需要知道自己的特权。在他们被耶稣赐予的丰盛祝福充满时，他们需要有属灵的知识和悟性。耶稣挑战衪的跟随者，来参与祂正在进行的工作（约翰福音 14:12），祂说，他们若懂得怎样支取他们已被赋予的能力，他们将要做比现在更大的事。
那叫耶稣从死里复活的能力，我们也可以得到。我们需要认识到，我们的产业是何等丰富，以至于令人难以置信。我们需要打开圣经，去寻找供我们使用的巨大财富，就好像我的孙子懂得怎样打开食物储藏室的门那样。
祷告
主啊，求你以你的慈爱和恩典照亮我们的心灵，好叫我们能被你的丰盛所充满。阿们。
以弗所书 1:15-23
15因此，我既听见你们信从主耶稣，亲爱众圣徒，
16就为你们不住地感谢神，祷告的时候常提到你们，
17求我们主耶稣基督的神、荣耀的父，将那赐人智慧和启示的灵赏给你们，使你们真知道他。
18并且照明你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道他的恩召有何等指望，他在圣徒中得的基业有何等丰盛的荣耀；
19并知道他向我们这信的人所显的能力是何等浩大，
20就是照他在基督身上所运行的大能大力，使他从死里复活，叫他在天上坐在自己的右边，
21远超过一切执政的、掌权的、有能的、主治的和一切有名的，不但是今世的，连来世的也都超过了；
22又将万有服在他的脚下，使他为教会做万有之首。
23教会是他的身体，是那充满万有者所充满的。
The Consequences
"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 his holy people. . . ." - Ephesians 1:18
My son-in-law wondered how we could spend so much on groceries. He compared our grocery bill as empty nesters to their grocery bill for a family of five, and he was puzzled. The next time they came to visit, I suggested that he watch the traffic flow of my grandchildren. Within minutes of arriving, the pantry door had been opened, and across the room the fridge door was also open. He smiled and shook his head.
I love that my grandkids feel at home and that they know how to access foods they want and enjoy. They know that they have that privilege at Grandma's house. And so do their parents as well as friends who show up.
As Paul prays for the Ephesians, he knows this is the kind of information they need. They need spiritual knowledge and understanding as their hearts begin to fill with the great blessings Jesus has for them. When Jesus challenges his followers to join him in the work he is doing (John 14:12), he says they will do more than he has done as they learn how to access the power they are given.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is offered to us. We need to understand how incredibly great our inheritance is. We need to open Scripture and find the amazing riches that are ours to use, just as my grandkids know how to open the pantry door.
Prayer
Lord, light up our hearts with your love and grace, that we may be filled with your fullness. Amen.