We often complain of lack of power; we seldom, as a rule, seek to find out the cause of it; yet how needful to do so, in order to prevent its recurrence! A forcible illustration was brought home to me some little time ago. We had been to a meeting, and on our return made our way to the trolley to take the car for home; but, to our surprise, all was dark and silent-no cars were running. Something had gone wrong at the power-house, and every here and there, as we walked home, we passed cars standing there in darkness and helplessness. The whole system was disarranged and helpless simply because something had gone wrong at the powerhouse. It was not the fault of the cars, it was something wrong at the source of power-the powerhouse.
We could not help remarking, "Thank God, nothing can ever go wrong at our power-house." There need never be such a sight as a stranded, dark and helpless Christian in this world; for nothing can ever go wrong with our source of power-never ! We may get the trolley-pole off the wire, as it were, and lose the connection for the time being; but that is our fault:the power is there all the same. All power for praise, for worship, for service, and all emergencies, is ever there:nothing can go wrong with the Holy Spirit. How blessed this is ! and He is the power for us and in us.
The Holy Spirit dwells in each one of the Lord's people (i Cor. 6:19), and we are told, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption " (Eph. 4:30). Alas, that is just what is so often done! We are to be "strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man " (Eph. 3:16), and "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power" (Col. i:11). The point is, do we cherish this power ? or, careless in our daily life, do we grieve the Spirit who gives it ? If a believer is in the dark, or helpless, it is because he has lost touch with Christ; and the Holy Spirit being grieved, He cannot operate through him. Confession is needed to get into touch again. How necessary, then, to be in constant touch with that glorified Christ on high, ever abiding in Him! and then, and then only, can we be lights in the darkness, and a power in the midst of the weakness and sin around us. Christian, keep the trolley-pole on! Wm. Easton
New Zealand