Made New: An Ephesians Book StudyНамуна

For the past year, Swifties have been closely watching the celebrity relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. They really want her to love and be loved by someone, and they want it to last. At the beginning of every sports season, fans closely watch their team, hoping this will be their year. We all wish for people, teams, or groups important to us to do well, but our deepest desires are often for the people we know the best.

Before we had our first kid, we prayed that he or she would love the church. The church has been a gift to our lives and the place of my career. We’ve seen some pastors’ kids who have ended up hating the church, and we didn’t want that for our kids. So we prayed. And we continue to pray that our kids will love God and their church family. My wife and I know the significant role a healthy church community can have in your life, and we want that for our kids because we love and care for them so much.

After starting the letter praising God for all He’s done, Paul writes a prayer. Paul’s letters often include sections of prayer. One can feel his genuine care and connection for the people he is writing to. When we read those prayers, we should remember a few things. First, he is writing for the individuals that will hear this letter. He hopes this prayer will be true in each of their lives. Second, he is also writing to the church as a whole. This letter was not read one by one. It was read to the church community, emphasizing the unity and support we have in our faith. Third, through the Holy Spirit, this prayer is also for us. I like the reminder that one author gives:

These are not private goals,...but community goals, the pursuit of which must happen in the church…Paul prays God will accomplish His will in each believer’s life as they experience life in the community of the faithful.¹

And, what are the things Paul prays for? He prays that we would know more deeply the hope we have, the inheritance we’ve been given, and the power that is in us. One of the things the Holy Spirit does is open our eyes to see more fully all that God is doing (v. 17, 18). And as the Holy Spirit reveals more to us, we should grow and be transformed. Christians can be more hopeful, even as the news headlines get crazier, because we know God’s calling in our lives. Christians can be more faithful, even as circumstances become uncertain because we know we have an eternal inheritance. Christians can be more impactful, even as the world changes quicker, because we know the source of true power. That’s Paul’s prayer for us, the same prayer we can have for each other.

¹Lynn H. Cohick, Ephesians, New Covenant Commentary Series (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2010), 56.

Response
1. Why is it important to have an attitude of thanksgiving as we pray for people?

2. How does your love and care shape your prayers? Who do you pray for? And what do you pray for them?

3. Write out a prayer for someone in your life.

Weekly Memory Verse
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight."
Ephesians 1:3-4

Written by Jake Musselman