Ephesians: The great exhortation

As I read Galatians, I am now reading Ephesians. One of the things that amazed me when I sat down to read the entire book in one sitting was Paul does not seem to know the people he is writing too. Paul is now in chains/prison. He has been to Ephesus in his travels; however, the people he is writing too he seems to be unfamiliar with. In other books, Paul will address specific sins, specific people, and encourage and bless people according to their personal needs. Here there is nothing intimate except the shared love of Christ.


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,
(Ephesians 1:15-16 ESV)

Here Paul us praying for them, but he has merely heard of their faith. What Paul prayers for is also pretty cool to read.


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.
(Ephesians 1:17-21 ESV)

Paul is a huge fan of the run on sentence. Paul wants wisdom for them, knowledge of God, enlightenment, and knowledge of the hope that God gives us. Paul will continue to encourage the Ephesians for 6 chapters. The lesson that sinks into my heart is that I need to encourage those who I don't know in their faith. What does that mean for me? I don't know, but I need to be open to the possibilities. Just as God used Philip to minister to the Ethiopian eunuch, God can use me to minister to people I didn't consider reaching. How will this look? Writing a letter or praying for people? Will I go to that people and provide medical and spiritual care? I don't know, but as I write this God is filling me with excitement.

Dan Zink said this pertaining to a recent missions trip,"We came to learn, serve, and encourage." I want to encourage people in their faith. I am calling Ephesians in my head Paul's exhortation to the Ephesians. I want to do the same for the people who enter my life. Lord, grant me the ability to do the same.