I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

Ephesians 1:8

The apostle Paul sends the letter to those in Ephesus with a prayer: that the eyes of their heart may be enlightened so that the hope that is found in Jesus, would be made known to them.

Paul uses poetic language in reference to the heart. The heart is a physical organ that pumps blood to every part of the body. The heart needs to be healthy to do its job properly. Paul prayed that the “eyes” of their hearts may be enlightened. In essence, our heart sees all that is going on in the world, and the hope of the world is through Jesus and Jesus alone. Ephesus was a place that wanted to capture one’s heart to anything but Jesus. Is it because if the eyes of our heart can see Jesus for who he really is, “the savior of the world” then maybe we must leave the things of this world behind? And, if we leave the things of this world behind, is it possible that conflict will arise?

At Hope Now, when a gang member decides to leave the gang behind, there is real loss. There is loss for the gang as they lose someone that they considered a brother in arms. They lose a soldier that protected the name and honor of the gang. They lose someone who brought a certain number of resources to the gang, so that fellow gang members could continue to promote the gang and their lifestyle. Hope Now shows them that through a job and caring relationships, a gang member can leave the gang, show up to work every day, discover that he belongs to a bigger family (one that will not kill him if has a change of heart) and that he should share with those in need.

Before a gang member can leave the gang, he needs to see with the eyes of his heart that true transformation and hope lies only with Jesus Christ. Maybe you are in a season of transition, or you are in gridlock spiritually or maybe you are looking for a place to share the hope that you have been given in his glorious inheritance. Will you pray for those that are in your midst whose eyes are not on Jesus? Are you able to commit to praying for churches and missions’ organizations to reach the lost for Jesus once a week? Maybe you are already doing that, then pray that God would open the eyes of your heart so that you can love others the way he loves you.