Discipling Life

You probably remember “Open the Eyes of My Heart” Paul Baloche. He based the lyrics on Ephesians 1:18, “so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints.” The version I was most familiar with was the recording by Sonicflood. Michael W. Smith also made a recording that was highly popular. Perhaps you still sing it occasionally in your worship or other gatherings. While the song captures the majesty of the apostle Paul’s writing, the apostle expresses his desire for the Ephesians (and us) in his prayers. Have you ever told someone, “I’m praying for you,” and then paused to wonder what exactly to pray? In moments when words feel thin or situations feel beyond fixing, prayer can become less about changing circumstances and more about opening hearts. The apostle Paul gives us one of those prayers here in this letter to the Ephesians. It is a prayer that reaches d...

What have you done for me lately? Yes, it is the title of a 1986 hit by Janet Jackson , but the saying goes back much further, at least to the 1950s. It reflects what some people refer to as hedonic adaptation . It means we get so used to the way things were yesterday we expect more today. It echoes the sentiment in John 6, where Jesus notes that followers are seeking him not for the spiritual significance of miracles, but because he provided food, asking implicitly what he can do for them immediately: “you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (v. 26) Sometimes our prayer life may reflect a bit of that attitude. Sometimes we begin to treat God as a Cosmic Vending Machine . If we just put in enough prayer coins we should get what we want. After all, didn’t Jesus say, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it?” (John 14:14) Of course, right after that he says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (v. 15) So, ho...

In the quiet of the Garden of Gethsemane, the night air was suddenly torn by the noise of a crowd. They came with swords and clubs, led by one of Jesus’ own friends. This moment, described in Matthew 26:47-56 , is one of the most painful in the story of our faith. It’s a scene of betrayal and confusion. It is a stunning revelation of God’s character. As the armed crowd approaches, one of Jesus’ companions reaches for his sword, striking out in defense. It’s a natural human reaction. When we are threatened, our first instinct is often to fight back, to meet violence with violence, to protect what is ours. But Jesus stops it immediately. He says, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” (vv. 52-54). Here, Jesus shows us a different kind...