This morning, Garry spoke from Ephesians 1:15-16, Paul’s prayer which says ‘I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.’
Paul founded the Ephesian church (see Acts 19) and this letter is a great encouragement to the church. In Eph 1:3-14, Paul lists the spiritual blessings that come from being in Christ Jesus – being chosen, adopted to sonship, redemption and forgiveness of sins. He remembers how they came to faith and what has gone before, just as on Remembrance Sunday we remember those who have sacrificed their lives in wars. For Paul, being thankful and remembering are two sides of the same coin.
Remembering what God has done is a key part of Biblical exhortation. As we remember the desperate situations we have faced and how God has delivered us, our faith is encouraged and we are strengthened. We can be especially thankful for the things God chooses not to remember (Is 43;25), chiefly our sins, meaning that we can have a fresh start and ongoing clean slate with Him.
Paul does not stop at being thankful for the Ephesians; he goes on to pray for them. This includes practical help (see James 2:15-16), as we try to do with supporting the Salvation Army and things like Operation Christmas Child. We need to understand, however, the benefits of praying for others, asking God to help and bless. As we remember, let us also pray.