Eyes Opened to Glory
As dawn reveals what was hidden in the night, so God opens the eyes of our hearts to see the glory of Jesus.
Devotional Credit: Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
Photo Credit: Unsplash
T. Austin-Sparks invites us to consider what it means for the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened, as Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18. He reflects on the days following the resurrection of Jesus, when the disciples slowly began to see Him in a new light. At first, there were faint hints, like the dim glow of dawn on the horizon. Then the light grew stronger until, on the day of Pentecost, the glory of the risen Lord was revealed in full brilliance. What once seemed a mystery suddenly became clear. The Scriptures opened like a new book, and Jesus was seen not only as the glorified Son of God, but as the very embodiment of God’s eternal plan and heavenly order.
This dawning realization was not simply an intellectual discovery but a revolutionary crisis that changed everything. The disciples’ world was transformed as they saw the fullness of God’s purpose in Jesus. Sparks reminds us that Paul himself described his conversion in this same way: God revealed His Son in him. From that moment forward, Paul lived in an unfolding revelation of Christ that grew deeper with every step.
Importantly, Sparks notes that this new understanding was not born out of human planning or organizational effort. The disciples did not form committees to strategize or design a mission. Instead, the life of the risen Jesus within them naturally pushed out the old and clothed them with something entirely new. The Spirit of God worked from within, shaping believers into expressions of Jesus Himself.
The message is clear. True transformation does not come by our efforts to arrange, control, or organize spiritual life. It is the revelation of Jesus in us that brings a new creation. When our spiritual eyes are opened, what once felt like shadows becomes radiant with meaning. We discover that we are not left to craft our own path, but that Jesus is forming His life within us, both individually and together as His people.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My beloved, I have opened the eyes of your heart to see the hope of My calling. You are not walking in shadows, for the light of My Son has dawned upon you. Just as I revealed Him to the apostles, I reveal Him to you, not merely before you but within you. The mystery hidden for ages has now been made known: Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Do not think that your growth depends on human plans or your own designs. My Spirit works from within, pushing away what belongs to the old creation and clothing you with new life. You are My workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which I prepared beforehand for you to walk in.
As you abide in Him, I continue to reveal more of His fullness. Each step, each trial, each joy is part of My progressive unveiling. You live not in darkness but in the radiance of My Son. Let your confidence rest in the fact that He is being formed in you. Yield to His life, for it is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives in you.
Scripture References: Ephesians 1:18, Galatians 1:12-16, Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 2:10, Romans 6:4-6, Galatians 2:20, John 14:20, Philippians 1:6, Colossians 3:3-4.
Real-Life Analogy
Think of a curtain slowly being pulled back from a window at sunrise. At first, just a sliver of light filters in, giving hints of the landscape outside. As the curtain continues to open, more and more is revealed until the full scene comes into view, bathed in morning light. That is what it is like when God opens the eyes of our hearts. We begin with glimpses, and then He draws us into greater clarity, showing us the fullness of Jesus as the true light of our lives.
Today, when I find myself trying to figure everything out or control the outcome, I can stop and whisper, “Lord, I trust You to reveal more of Jesus in me and through me.” His light turns confusion into clarity and His presence into peace.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that You have opened my eyes to see the hope of Your calling. You have not left me in shadows but have revealed the glory of Jesus as my life. I rejoice that I do not need to craft my own way, for You are forming Your Son in me. I rest in the certainty that His light continues to grow, guiding me in every step and filling me with Your life.