Ephesians 1:15-23

Be Still: Lord, open the eyes of my heart today, that I would see you more clearly and live more fully in the life you have for me. Amen

Read: Ephesians 1:15-23 

'I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.' (v16)

Encounter: As a child I remember being made to write ‘thank you cards’ after birthdays or Christmas. Each card would be sent off to a relative in a far distant place saying thank you from me for the present I had received that year. As a child I didn’t realise why saying thanks is so important and even so powerful: it lifts your eyes off from the present and up onto the giver - the person behind the present.

Today’s passage is one of Paul’s prayers of thanksgiving. In the original Greek it’s one long single sentence – almost like he’s so excited and breathless to get his ‘thank you card’ written. But Paul is writing to God, the ‘Father of Glory’ (v17) giving thanks for the Christians in Ephesus. It is as though the believers in Ephesus are a ‘present’ to Paul from God. Paul is so delighted, so thankful for each and every one of them, for their ‘faith in the Lord Jesus’ and their ‘love’ for one another (v.15). 

Apply: How thankful to God are you for other Christians you know? Those immediately close to you, those further away from you geographically or relationally and yet still faithful followers of Jesus? Find a way to give thanks to God for them today. Maybe writing a ‘thankful to God for…’ note on your phone, or even a physical letter or note to send to one of them today. 

Devote: Thank you Jesus for the Christians I know. Thank you for our love for one another; thank you for their faith in you. Help me Holy Spirit to be as thankful as Paul is in his letter.