People in the western world, where the shepherding of flocks is normally done by driving sheep with dogs, may find it hard to grasp the intimacy seen in biblical shepherd passages. Here, the shepherd is pictured as having a personal attachment to the sheep, and the sheep are portrayed as recognizing the shepherd’s voice and responding. The rewards for this unique relationship are both satisfying and eternal.

As God works through His people to bring salt and light to the world, He promises to share His glory with them. But in their sinful hearts, they can be tempted to forget who is truly changing the world around them. The test for Evergreen is not whether temptation will come; it is a matter of when. The only thing more predictable than the temptation is the certainty that God will provide an escape to help us finish the race!

"Paul's prayer reveals the need of the believer to have discernment of what God has already given them. Though the Ephesians were faithful and loving, Paul knew they still needed spiritual understanding and insight. He prays that their hearts would be opened to grasp their hope, their value, and the power available to them in Christ. We are called to move beyond surface-level faith into a deeper, Spirit-enabled understanding of our identity and what has been offered to us in Jesus."