Hope, Inheritance, and Power - Ephesians 1:17-20

Hope, Inheritance, and Power - Ephesians 1:17-20
　

    Reading Ephesians, I was drawn to Paul’s powerful prayer for discernment in 1:17 - 20. He begins the verse by asking God to give us the "spirit of wisdom;" the "revelation in the knowledge of Him;" and the "eyes of (our) understanding being enlightened," so that we may know - 1) What is the hope of His calling? (2) What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (i.e believers)? And (3) What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe? Paul’s prayer is for   believers to be blessed with wisdom, revelation, and knowledge and enlightenment. The purpose is for us to be able to clearly see, comprehend, and be assured of God’s promises to us and that our faith is not frivolous.

    What is this "hope of His calling?" First, let us define "hope" as used here in scripture. The hope described here is not a mere desire but the actual basis or ground upon which we place our trust and expectations. This hope is actually the very foundation of our faith. And "of His calling?" That Godly calling is not the general calling given to all men in the gospel, but the inward or effectual calling that comes from our heavenly Father via His mercy and grace. As Paul so succinctly put it - "Whom He did predestined, He also called: and whom he called, He also justified." (Romans 8:30)
    What are "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints?" 1 Peter 1:3 - 5 tells us, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Our inheritance is the eternal salvation provided for us by the atoning death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
    Finally, what of "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe?" Most often our human pride resists the overtures of God. Our hearts and heads are hardened by the "prince of the world" - Satan. Our fallen human nature denies the holiness of God and demands that we live according to the flesh. How great is the power that God exerts upon us to change our unbelieving hearts? How strong is the power of God’s effectual call that makes a saint of a sinner? God’s power is so great that we cannot resist it when He calls us to Him. If we can resist the call of God then God has not called us.
    In God we have the hope of our faith, the inheritance of our salvation, and the power of God which calls us, saves us, justifies us, sanctifies us, and keeps us eternally.
May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ be always with you. Amen.