Paul is not only thanking God for these people he has never met,
he is praying for them.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you…
Col 1.3
That brings to mind something I think of often.
Samuel, as the spiritual leader of Israel, said,
As for me,
far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord,
by ceasing to pray for you.
1 Samuel 12.23
Samuel says it would be a sin against God
to not be praying for the people under his covering.
Paul, in all his busyness,
still makes the time to pray for those who aren’t even under his covering.
And me?