Give Thanks

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Eph 1:15–23
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Give Thanks
The believer and the unbeliever alike pray. The believer prays with confidence in God and His promises to hear and answer those prayers. The unbeliever prays in vain to deaf and dumb idols, whatever form they may take, in hopes that there is some power out there to help them. Either way, we all acknowledge a higher power. Here in these verses, Paul gives thanks for God’s power at work in the Ephesians. But before we get ahead of ourselves, we should remember that God’s power is not automatically good news. It terrifies sinners, as they are convicted through His Law and realize they have no power or defense against the just verdict of God’s guilty sentence upon them. But it does comfort us who know His love for us in Christ. As we understand, there is nothing we need to do, for Christ has done it all on our behalf. Our sentence of death for our guilty verdict became Christ’s. His life for ours. His righteousness for our unrighteousness. And for this, we give thanks for God’s power at work in the life of His people. May our merciful Lord, who is powerful to save, grant us His good Spirit that we may boldly confess Jesus’ saving Gospel.