John writes that we abide in death if we do not love all the saints. 1 John 3:14-16. In other words, there is not one of the saints whom I should not be able to love. My love must not be restricted to a few; on the contrary, I should be able to love everyone! When Paul heard that the Ephesians’ faith in the Lord Jesus had produced a love for all the saints, he began to pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He might give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Eph. 1:15-17. In other words, I can gain knowledge when I read God’s Word with my natural eyes. However, I only receive spiritual knowledge and wisdom when the eyes of my heart are enlightened by God. V. 18. So, the heart also has eyes! Hence, I understand my calling when I read God’s Word with these eyes, and my calling is to serve and help others for their best. Phil. 2:1-5. With my heart’s enlightened eyes, I see how rich this glory is that I have together with the saints. Eph. 1:18. Then I can serve them and speak words of life to them so that the same glory of which I have partaken can be part of their lives. Ch. 4:11-16. Then I also see that I must be more careful with my words. What Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 9 shows who he really was and how he worked. He was an apostle to all and he was a servant to all so he might win the more. This was his whole desire and need in everything he undertook. Therefore he could also say in verse 23, “Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a partaker of it with you.” We ought to read 1 Corinthians 9 over and over again and imagine ourselves in Paul’s place. How do I serve? Do I serve to win the more, or would I rather promote myself in my ministry? I have read this chapter often and consciously worked with it from when I was young. I have read it many times, and I still find much to judge in my life and from which to cleanse myself so that my ministry can be even more perfected because I know that I have sin and therefore do not possess the entire fullness. 1 John 1:8; Rom. 7:21-23. I also know that I have received a share in the life of Christ, but I must partake of an even greater fullness. Phil. 3:12-17. In this way, one’s ministry can become more perfect. To that end, we need enlightened eyes of the heart, so that in our personal life we can experience God’s mighty power that He demonstrated in Jesus when He raised Him from the dead. 1 Thess. 4:14-18. This life force that is in God can also transform us and create something new in our life. Phil. 3:20-21. This is how we can be renewed in the spirit of our mind, so we can see things more clearly as the days go by. Eph. 4:23-24.Kåre J. Smith