Paul’s Emphasis on Prayer

(Eph. 1:15-16)   Ephesians 1:15-23 emphasizes the importance of prayer in the  life of a  Christian.  As in most of Paul’s epistles he tells  his  readers, whether an individual or a  congregation, that  he is  constantly praying for them. He says in  Eph. 1:16, “[I] do not  cease  to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.”

We see Paul’s  thankfulness exhibited in prayer. It is a  thankful prayer and a  public commendation of and to the  people of God.  Paul is thankful for  two  important  characteristics of  God’s people; faith in the Lord Jesus and love  for  the saints.

God’s people are  to  love  one another.  Jesus said. “By this all people will know that you are  my disciples, if you have  love one for another.” (John 13:25).  I  remember a   song we  sang in chorus in college. It went this way, “They will know that we are  Christians  by  our love.”

In these  verses we see a thankful, praying  apostle.  Paul said that we are only to imitate  him as he  imitated Christ.  I would say that this  is  a  time when  we  can use  Paul as our  example in living out  our  faith.

-Larry Miles, April 23, 2015

-Larry  Miles is Co-editor of Word and Work