Ephesians 1:17 (NIV) says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
I blinked and it was the end of February. I woke up and it was 2020. The world is changing rapidly, my children have outgrown their youth and my grandchildren are starting to realize disappointment.
How is it, God, that I can show your love to my family and those around me when there are so many needs? The answer came in my scripture verse for the year, Ephesians 1:17 NIV)
Paul wrote this personal letter to the church at Ephesus while he was in prison in Rome. Many converted to faith in Jesus Christ while Paul was on his missionary journeys, but others opposed his preaching. Until this point, Paul’s letters offered instructions, yet the book of Ephesians dealt with the heart of what it means to be a Christian regardless of the problems in the community.
Isn’t God good? He gave me a word—knowledge—and a scripture verse to take me through the year. The beginning of the year started with a study that focused on seeing others through the lenses of God. Christine Caine’s 20/20 (Seen/Chosen/Sent), is an excellent study that helped me to refocus on God so I could see others more clearly. I realized He has chosen me to show His love to others. And He is sending me to do just that.
One thing about Bible studies is no matter how many times you study a passage or book God will reveal something new. Not only does He want me to be more knowledgeable about Him, He wants to give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Wow! What I have learned is the more I ask and allow the Holy Spirit to fill my heart, the less room I have for self. More of God and less of me is a wonderful thing. I long to please God. You know what I mean? And the more I please God the more I know Him and can shine His light to others.
All throughout the Books of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, you will read about the sacrifices that were made and you’ll see the aroma was pleasing to God. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIV) says, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”
Did you read that? He uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him. And we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ. Did you know that you put off an aroma of Christ to God? That is powerful stuff. The aroma of those that reject Christ brings death. The aroma of those that accept Christ brings life.
When I think about what the year 2020 holds, I must focus on the one thing that God asks of me. Will you accept the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so you may know me better? I want to pass on the unique fragrance that God has given me to my children so that it mixes with their own fragrance. I long for my legacy to be one where my children see the importance of the knowledge of Christ in their hearts so there is less of them and more of God. I want my grandchildren to understand that they can face disappointments knowing that God loves them and will never leave them, and He feels their pain.
When I see my children having anxiety or facing chaos, I want to love on them knowing that God will fix what I can’t. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) says “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
When I wake up and seek God for His wisdom, the revelation of His love shines through. Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV), says “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
When I realize God’s love surpasses knowledge, my heart will be full of God—the Holy Spirit. And I can share that love with those around me and point them to the One who gives hope to the hopeless, help to the helpless and protection from the enemy.
Blessings y’all!!!
Annette Burrell
CHM Contributor
