Ephesians 1:15-17
"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."
Paul's blessing now turns into a prayer. After celebrating all God has done for believers, Paul thanks God for their faith and love. Then he asks God to help them grow even more. These verses remind us that following Jesus is not just about knowing facts about God. It is about knowing Him personally and growing closer to Him every day.
Faith: Trusting Jesus and believing His promises. Like holding the hand of someone you trust to lead you safely.
Love for God's People: Caring for and serving other believers. Like helping a family member because they belong to your family.
Prayer: Talking with God and bringing people and needs before Him. Like having a conversation with a loving Father who always listens.
Wisdom: God's help to understand what is right and live according to His truth. Like having a flashlight that helps you see the right path.
Revelation: God helping us understand who He is and what He wants us to know. Like turning on a light in a room so you can clearly see what was already there.
Know Him Better: Growing in a deeper relationship with God. Like becoming closer to a friend as you spend more time together.
Paul had heard about the believers' faith in Jesus and their love for God's people. True faith always changes how we treat others.
Connecting Scripture & Explanation
Galatians 5:6 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.” Faith is not just something we say we have. Real faith shows itself through loving actions toward others. When Jesus changes our hearts, His love begins to flow through us.
1 John 4:11 – “Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.” Because God loves us so deeply, we should share that same love with others. God's love becomes visible when His children care for one another.
Faith and love work together. The closer we grow to Jesus, the more we love people.
Paul did not focus on problems first. He started by thanking God for what He was already doing.
Connecting Scripture & Explanation
Philippians 1:3 – “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer….” This is saying we should be telling our friends that we are thankful for them. Whenever we think about them, we should thank God and pray for them with joy. This shows the importance of appreciating the people God places in our lives and praying for them with a thankful heart.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 – “We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
When we see faith growing in our family or friends, we can pause and thank God for His faithfulness.
Paul says he never stopped remembering these believers in prayer. One of the greatest ways we can love others is by praying for them.
Connecting Scripture & Explanation
James 5:16 – “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.” This says we should be honest about our mistakes, support each other, and pray for one another. When we confess our sins and pray together, God can help bring healing to our hearts, relationships, and lives. It also reminds us that the prayers of people who faithfully follow God are powerful and can make a real difference.
Colossians 1:9 – “For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding….” We should continually be praying for other believers. We need to ask God to help them understand His will and to give wisdom and spiritual understanding so they can make good choices and live in a way that honors Him.
Prayer is a gift we can give every day, even when we cannot solve someone's problem ourselves.
Paul's greatest prayer was not for comfort, success, or possessions. He prayed that believers would know God more deeply.
Connecting Scripture & Explanation
James 1:5 – “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God – who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly – and it will be given to him.” This verse teaches that if we do not know what to do or need help making a good decision, we can ask God for wisdom. God is generous and willing to help us understand the right path. He does not get upset when we ask for His guidance.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – “This is what the Lord says: The wise person should not boast in his wisdom; the strong should not boast in his strength; the wealthy should not boast in his wealth. But the one who boasts would boasts in this: that he understands and knows me – that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.” These verses teach that we should not be proud of our intelligence, strength, or wealth. Instead, the most important thing is knowing God and understanding His character. God wants people to value His love, justice, and righteousness and to live according to those qualities.
Wisdom helps us see God more clearly, trust Him more fully, and follow Him more faithfully.
Family Connection: Growing Closer to God
Paul's prayer reminds us that:
As a family, we can encourage one another to grow in faith, love, prayer, and wisdom. The more we know God, the more our lives reflect His goodness.
Family Discussion Questions
Family Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the faith You have placed in our hearts and for the love You help us show to others. Teach our family to pray faithfully and encourage one another every day. Give us wisdom and understanding through Your Holy Spirit so that we may know You better. Help us grow closer to You and reflect Your love in everything we do. May our lives bring honor and glory to Your name. Amen.