*This week, we will focus on the book of Ephesians. The readings through August 31 walk through this classic letter of the Apostle Paul. I encourage you to read the book along with these devotionals, one chapter a day, mindful, of course, that there is no devotional on Saturday, August 31. But by then, you’ll be an expert on Ephesians! 

Today’s Reading: Ephesians 1

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers,
Ephesians 1:16

When you write a letter, or more likely an email, how do you construct it? 

My guess is you don’t put your signature at the top. Instead, a greeting opens the email, followed by the body, logically and clearly outlining why you’re writing. Then, there’s the sign-off, saying “best,” or “thanks,” or “cheers,” or something of that nature before adding your signature. 

We follow a pattern when we write letters. In following a pattern, we aid in interpretation. The reader can decipher and understand our purpose in writing because we followed a pattern. 

Paul was no different. His letters followed a pattern and here, in Ephesians 1, we see the first two of the four elements of his letters:

1. Greeting: 1:1-14
2. Thanksgiving: 1:15-23
3. Body/Purpose
4. Benediction/Sign-Off

Note that numbers 1, 3, and 4 all coincide with a letter or email we might write. What makes Paul unique are his thanksgivings. They always follow the greeting, which is unusually long in Ephesians. We know we’ve hit the thanksgiving because Paul will say something like he does here: “I…give thanks.” 

Why does this matter? It helps with our interpretation. First, it tells us something about what the churches were doing right. That’s important because Paul’s letters have lots of admonitions, corrections, and orders, but he opens first by encouraging them, pointing to what’s right before explaining what’s wrong. Paul provides us with a positive example to follow. This formula also shows us when a church is failing greatly, as in Galatians where there is no thanksgiving. 

Second, Paul leads with encouragement, the same as we saw with Jesus in my August 4 sermon. Too often, we are quick to complain, correct, admonish. It’s much easier to be a critic than an encourager. Paul’s thanksgivings demonstrate that we should always lead first with encouragement, even if we see little reason to give thanks. Almost always, there is something positive to point to.

Think
Are you faster to be a critic or an encourager? Consider various scenarios in your life: at restaurants and stores, at work and church, at home.

Pray
Ask God to give you a heart of gratitude, finding the positive, so you can lead with encouragement.

Do
Find someone to encourage today.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.