April 19th | Give Thanks for Faith in Jesus

Published March 24, 2025

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

GIVE THANKS FOR FAITH IN JESUS   

Ephesians 1:15-16 “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.”   

Seventy-three times the phrase “give thanks unto the Lord” is found in the Bible. Christians give thanks to God for His love and kindness, specific acts such as deliverance from an enemy and for the basic necessities of life such as food, water, clothing, etc. Giving of thanks flows from a grateful heart and is an acknowledgement that God is the source of all things. It says to God you recognize that you are totally dependent upon Him.   

Today’s devotional verse finds St. Paul giving thanks to God for the Ephesian’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and their love for all of God’s people. This should not surprise you in that giving thanks is usually associated with the reception of a gift. Faith in Jesus is one of the greatest gifts God gives. Your Faith is a God given gift: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it (faith) is the gift of God. . .” In fact, there is no other way faith occurs.   

This gift from God is brought into your heart by the Holy Spirit. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved (you), not because of righteous things (you have) done, but because of His mercy. He saved (you) through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:4-5) 

Many gifts you receive have no lasting value. If you think about this statement, you may realize how true it is by simply trying to remember the gifts you received last Christmas, for your birthday, a special occasion, and the like. On the other hand, the gift of faith in Jesus endures, keeps its value, is the only gift He has given you for your salvation. The Psalmist writes, “For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 110:5) 

Prayer: Thanks be to You, O God, for Your love endures forever and the faith You have given me will never rust, decay and no thief will steal it from me. Amen. 

Oh, for a faith that will not shrink   Tho’ pressed by many-a-foe;  That will not tremble on the brink   Of poverty or woe; 

That will not murmur not complain   Beneath the chast’ning rod,  But in the hour of grief or pain   Can lean upon its God; 

A faith that shines more bright and clear   When tempests rage without;  That, when in danger, knows no fear,   In darkness feels no doubt; 

That bears unmoved the world’s dread frown   Nor heeds its scornful smile;  That sin’s wild ocean cannot drown   Nor Satan’s arts beguile; 

A faith that keeps the narrow way  Till Life’s last spark is fled  And with a pure and heavenly ray  Lights up the dying bed. 

Lord, give us such a faith as this;   And then, whate’er may come,  We’ll taste e’en now the hallowed bliss   Of an eternal home.

(TLH 396)