(Continued from p. 367)

"And what the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ."

There is a great deal of unutilized power in the world. Edison, America's great inventive genius, once said that it almost drove him mad at times, as he stood by the Atlantic, to see the immense power represented in its tumbling, heaving waters, utterly lost to man-infinitudes of force un-applied, undirected.

And there are likewise great spiritual resources available for the Christian, of which he knows little, and appropriates less. Our verse speaks of "the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe," but when we look at our lives, where is it manifested? We are in this respect too much like those who do not believe.

It is therefore no wonder that the apostle prays that we might practically acquaint ourselves with our resources. For it is of practical knowledge that he is speaking, even though its ultimate efficacy will only be known in actual resurrection. It is not an intellectual dallying with a dream that he covets for us. He longs that all the floodgates of our being might be thrown wide open that this "exceeding great power" might flow in and possess us. He would have us all Careys, Livingstones, Arnots, Judsons, Patons, Grenfells, Spurgeons, Moodys, Hodges, Darbys, Arthingtons, Boardmans, Mullers, centers of force in the circles in which we move. Surely it might almost drive us mad, as we stand by the ocean of God's power and find ourselves so feeble. Paul could say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me." Are we then ever to be content to "live at this poor dying rate?"

The opening of the second chapter of this epistle assures us that we were once made alive from the dead, that "God, who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith He hath loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath quickened us together with Christ." That is our common experience. Yet the apostle would still have an exhortation for us of this day, as he had for those of his own, "to awake from among the dead," where we sleep as if we were still of them.

That fine Christian missionary, Dan Crawford, has written a little article, entitled "All-at-it," in which in terse and trenchant language he exhorts us to rise as one man, to work all together, to tolerate sluggishness in none, if we are to get things done. It is a thoroughly worth-while message. A long pull, and a strong pull, and a pull all together, with God back of it; God, the great, living, loving Energizer of all things, back of it. Then indeed, the "all things" of the apostle will be as nothings before us. But not sooner.

A collocation of words bespeaking power, in this and the following verse, is served up by the commentators as a collation on which to feast both intellect and heart. For Paul they are the outpouring of an exuberance of joy, the daily experience of his own life. He knows in rich living what each word means. Of the Greek words employed Lange tells us that "dunamis is the 'brachium divinum' (the divine arm), iskus (with a play on the root significance) is its muscles, kratos is the power manifesting itself, energeia (energy), the actual efficiency." Some, using other imagery, liken them to "root, tree and fruit." And do we not all sigh for more "efficiency," more "fruit?"

"Abide in me, and I in you," said Christ. He is the "arm" of the Lord, He is the "root" and the "tree."
He alone "giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength."

To picture to us in a vivid way the might available for us, in our feebleness, Paul now refers to the power that was put forth in the resurrection, ascension and session at God's right hand, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, of the Man Christ Jesus. It is a picture in the truths of which shine out all our hopes. If Christ be not raised, then we are of all men most miserable. Everything is for us pitch dark. Everything for the world is pitch dark. The lovely ideals, the epic story, the tender, compassionating love of the "Man of Sorrows," are but vain dreams; our hopes but bitter illusion. Just, however, as the Christians of early days saluted one another with, "Christ is risen," we, after this long time, may respond, "Christ is risen indeed!" Our faith has not built itself on "sinking sand" but upon a "rock of Gibraltar." All the intellectual acumen and all the ingenuity of infidelity have here expended themselves for us in vain-"Christ is risen."

And the power that was for Him, is for us. Resurrection of the dead is a mighty work. Who may raise the dead but God? Christ's session at God's hand in glory is a mighty work. In the hands once stretched upon the cross is clasped no idle scepter. He "who was crucified through weakness" has gathered to Himself all the forces of the Universe. The Man Christ Jesus, "far above all principality, and might, and dominion," sways all things with His word, and He saith to this world "Go," and it goeth, and to that world "Come," and it cometh, and to this might or dominion, "Do this," and it doeth it.

Might is thus controlled by "right," and "right" is animated by "love," and Divine Love is ready to make this might available for our service. "The exceeding greatness of His power" is for us who believe. We are members of that Church, for which, over all things, He is Head. We are His Body, and every nerve and sinew should be energized by His power. We are the completion of Him who filleth all in all.

Thus our chapter closes with the supreme exaltation of Christ. He who has been pictured in the beginning of the chapter as under God the divine Channel of blessing for us, is now blessed with what for Him, because of the goodness of His heart, constitutes supreme blessing, a place of power, filling all in all, and thus bringing gladness to all, "reading His history in His people's eyes."

"Hail, gladdening Light, of His pure glory poured,
Who is the immortal Father, Heavenly Blest,
Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ, our Lord-
Worthiest art Thou at all times to be sung,
With undefiled tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of Life alone,
Therefore in all the world, Thy glories, Lord, we own."

F. C. Grant