April 20th | Know Him Better

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

KNOW HIM BETTER  

Ephesians 1:17 “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.”  

Jesus said, “ . . . when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13) So, St. Paul in today’s devotional verse prays for God to give you the Holy Spirit. He prays for this special gift because the Holy Spirit is the possessor of all “wisdom and revelation.” He has inspired the writings in the Holy Scriptures which “make you wise unto your salvation.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)  

The Holy Scriptures, inspired and revealed by the Holy Spirit, St. Paul told Timothy are “ . . . useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) John said in 1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 

The Holy Spirit works through the Holy Scriptures to make you wise, not in the wisdom of this world, but in regard to your salvation. Jesus promised shortly before ascending into heaven, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) Jesus also said, “ . . . no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”  

Your salvation is through Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who brings you to faith in Jesus to receive this salvation Jesus has won for you. The Holy Spirit, as Luther explains, “ . . . calls you by the Gospel, enlightens you, makes you holy and keeps you in the true faith to life everlasting.” (Small Catechism, explanation to the third article of the Apostle’s creed.) Your eternal life in heaven is dependent upon the Holy Spirit working faith in your heart to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, light divine, shine upon this heart of mine. Amen. 

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord, With all Your graces ow outpoured  On each believer’s mind and heart; Your fervent love to them impart.  Lord, by the brightness of Your light In holy faith Your Church unite;  From ev’ry land and ev’ry tongue   This to Your praise, O Lord, our God, be sung: Alleluia, alleluia! 

Come, holy Light, guide divine, Now cause the Word of life to shine.  Teach us to know our God aright And call Him Father with delight.  From ev’ry error keep us free; Let none but Christ our master be  That we in living faith abide,   In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide. Alleluia, alleluia! 

Come holy Fire, comfort true, Grant us the will Your work to do  And in Your service to abide; Let trials turn us not aside.  Lord, by Your pow’r prepare each heart,   And to our weakness strength impart   That bravely here we may contend,   Through life and death to You, our Lord, ascend. Alleluia, alleluia!  (LSB 497)