In Touch Devotional By Dr Charles Stanley

In Touch Devotional || 1st January 2024 || To Truly Know Him

Today’s Topic: To Truly Know Him

Let’s begin the new year praying God’s best for those around us.

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

IN TOUCH DAILY DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE FOR JANUARY 1ST, 2024

A new year stretching out before us promises endless opportunities to improve, to be better people. Many of our New Year’s resolutions—to read more, stick to a budget, or be more physically active, for example—express an inward focus. But what if we resolved to begin the year by turning our attention outward?

In today’s passage, the apostle Paul prays that the Ephesians would know God. That seems strange since they were already following Christ, but Paul knew the importance of truly, intimately knowing the Lord. It is, as Jesus told His disciples, the substance of eternal life (John 17:3). So Paul prayed their hearts would be enlightened as they gained spiritual wisdom and insight about the “mystery” of the gospel (Ephesians 1:9).

Paul understood that “His body” (v. 23) meant Jews and Gentiles alike, and he wanted to make sure the Ephesians—who were Gentiles—understood that, too. So he prayed for them to see and understand God’s work in their lives and community—both in “this age” and “the one to come” (v. 21).

This year, let’s allow Paul’s words to guide us as we pray for our own communities—that a spirit of wisdom and revelation would deepen their knowledge of God and their experience of eternal life in Christ.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 1-3