They had been dead in trespasses and in sins, and had been quickened by God. They had been raised from a life of sin to sit with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:5, 6). An amazing miracle of grace had been wrought in these Ephe sians, for they once practiced the grossest sins of paganism. But we, too, who were dead in trespasses and in sins, have experienced the quickening of the Holy Spirit and now we dwell with Christ. Thè union between Christ and those who, through faith and the power of. the Holy Spirit are one with Him, is so intimate and complete that in His resurrection, in His enthronement at the right hand of God, in His exer cise of authority, power and grace, they rise to new and diviner levels of life. The joy and the glory of the Lord are theirs. The power which raised Christ from the dead and placed Him far above all principality and power has raised us from the death of sin and made us alive unto God and unto right eousness: If we could grasp the glorious truth that this same mighty power could be ours in a fuller measure, and that through claiming it by faith we could rise to greater heights of holiness, love and power, then we would leave behind us the old life of weakness, failure and defeat. Why do we live such barren, defeated lives with such a mighty God behind us, with such resources at our disposal? When we claim this power through faith then miracles will begin to happen, our lives will be transformed, there will be that in our preaching and teaching which will influence our hearers as never before. The great God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whom He raised from the dead and exalted to be a “ Prince and a Saviour” (Acts 5:31), waits to quicken us anew and to enable us to live a radiant, triumphant Christian life. He wants to reveal to us, in the living present, more of the glory which is already ours in Christ, through His resur rection and exaltation. Perhaps, if our own imagination were radiant with the splendors of our glorious inheritance in Christ; if the gospel on our lips were thrilled with passion of the exalting hope of reigning with Christ as well as touched with the pathos of His sufferings and death for our salva tion, and if our lives revealed more of the “ power of His resurrection,” then weary and troubled hearts that now listen to the gospel with languid interest would be filled with sudden rapture of wonder and joy, and realizing vividly the infinite possibility of a life in Christ, would surrender themselves fully to Him. *Of Dunstable, Beds., England
Calbarp I saw, against a purple sunset sky, The Cross that held the Christ on Calvary; And from His pale lips passed a human cry, “My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” I saw His precious blood for sinners shed A royal vesture o’er His quivering form; The nail-pierced hands, the thorn-encircled head, And then the darkness of the coming storm. I saw Him die— the Son of God— His eyes Raised to the heavens beyond the skies; His head dropped low, and then great peace and blest, For Him who had no place wherein to rest. But lo! God’s voice above the tumult break, Resounding clear o’er tempest and o’er quake I heard, and all the trembling world with me; I saw God’s hand across the storm-torn sky; It pointed to the Cross; “Thus did He die, To gain eternal life, O soul, for thee.” (Written by an inmate of Minnesota State Penitentiary about 40 years ago). Wfjep Witty CJjrisit
Jftrôt €aöter Margaret K. Fraser
Into the gloom the Lord went first, To open “a new and living way.” For us Christ has endured the worst, To share with us, eternal day. God's children face death unafraid, It’s hurt and sting brought to an end, Who trust in Christ, dread not the shade; This enemy becomes a friend. Their house of clay Christ’s own forsake, With spiritual eyes His face to see; Into a better world they wake, Part of a heavenly company. Although the loved one’s voice is still; It is but a glorious waking sleep! Delivered now from every ill, They dwell with angels— why thus weep? Grieve not that these have changed their state They now are present with their Lord; To know their joy, we still must wait: To dwell with Christ— what rich reward.
Glad angel throngs announced His holy birth, When Christ, the Saviour, came from Heav’n to earth That He might carry out His Father’s plan, And shed His precious blood for sinful man. How joyful Heaven’s hosts must then have been, When He had fully paid for all our sin, And they could hear the voice of God’s own Son, Proclaiming, “ It is finished — it is done!” Oh wond’rous joy of that first Easter Day! An angel came and rolled the stone away From empty tomb, and Heav’n rejoiced that He Had conquered death, and rose in victory. I know that there was rapture up above, And joy within the Father’s heart of love, When He came Home, with nail-scarred hands and feet — His travail o’er, redemption’s work complete. Page Eight
—Blanton W. Jones T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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