Pressing on: Grateful for the Past, Prayful for the Future

I was studying in Ephesians again this morning, working on 1.15-23. In verses 16-17, Paul says that he does not cease giving thanks for the Ephesians, making mention of them in his prayers, and that he also prays for them (indicated by the mention of prayer and by the ἵνα content clause - NIV makes this explicit with "I keep asking") that God might give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, etc.

On the one hand, Paul is grateful for the work God has already done in the lives of the Ephesians, causing their faith in Christ and their love for the saints to grow. On the other hand, Paul anticipates further growth for the Ephesians, and makes that a matter of his prayer for them. Of this forward looking frame of mind, Calvin (in his commentary on the passage) says 'nothing is more dangerous than satiety of spiritual benefits. However strong may be our virtues, let us always aim at further progress.' As well as the Ephesians were doing, Paul shows a concern for growth and progression rather than stagnancy in the Ephesians' relationship with God.