October, 1934
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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
'^Around, the King’s Tables B y L ouis T. T albot
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2. “And the power of his resurrection.” It is not only the earthly life of Christ and its secret which Paul wishes experimentally to know. He desires also to know the full ness of the power of Christ’s resurrection. He has already referred to this power in the first chapter of Ephesians, verses 19 and 20: “What the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working
Paul’s Ambition and Ours “That I may know him, and the power o f his resur rection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming con formed unto his death” (Phil. 3:10, R.V.). I n the verses immediately preceding, beginning with verse 8, Paul has set forth his attitude toward the things
of the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ, when he raised hifn from the dead.” “And you . . . when ye were dead”—that was the past condition (Eph. 2:1) -t- “God . . . made . . . alive together with Christ . . . and raised us up with him”—that is the pres ent fact. Paul here indicates that the power—the greatness of God’s power—which was wrought in Christ in His resur rection is that same power which is exercised on our be half when, being dead through trespasses and sins, we are made alive together w i t h Christ. What strength is avail able for the weakest child of God when he fully realizes the meaning of the power of Christ’s resurrection! “Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more.” 3. his sufferings." How we all shrink from pain and suffer ing! How we desire that our friends shall be shielded from such! You recall that during the lifetime of our Lord here upon the earth, when Peter be came aware of the suffering ahead for the Lord, his word was: “This shall never be unto thee.” But Paul has come to the place where he realizes something of the fact of fel lowship with Christ through suffering. Hear him in Colos-
which men ordinarily highly prize, saying that he counts all these things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of C h r is t J e su s the L o rd . Throughout this passage is re vealed the transforming power of the gospel as it shapes the thinking and the attitude of men’s hearts. Paul has come to the place where he freely, re nounces all those things which men customarily would count as high prizes to be grasped and tightly held. Was there reason for pride of race on the part of any ? Paul says he had more reason than others to be proud of his race—“of the stock of Israel, of this tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of He brews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, per secuting the church; as touch ing the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.” These are the things which Paul renounces and counts loss for Christ. In one verse—Philippians 3:10—Paul sets forth his de sire and ambition. What a wor thy ambition it is ! 1. him.” Paul’s ambition now is not simply that he may have a speculative knowledge concern ing the person of Christ, but rather that he may have a prac tical and experimental under standing, entering by expe
Certainty BY E. MARGARET C LA RK SO N Sure as the deep dusk gathers When day is done, Sure as the purple morning When night is gone; Sure as the springtime follows The winter's snows, Sure as the pale bud breaking Reveals the rose; Sure as the skylark's carol, The linnet's trill, Sure as the rock foundation O f mighty hill; Sure as the flight of ages Abides His Word— The promise of th' Eternal, Unmoved, unstirred! Then why shouldst thou be fearful, And why distrest? His Word abideth faithful— His way is best!
“T h a t I may know
sians 1 :24 as he says: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” He realizes that if we are to share Christ’s glory, we must also share in His reproach and shame and suffering. The Lord was made perfect through suffering. 4. “Becoming conformed unto his death.” Paul recog nizes that to know the Lord Jesus Christ, to know the power of His resurrection, to know the fellowship of His sufferings, has a glorious outcome: For the one thus expe riencing these things will be conformed to the likeness of
rience into a fuller knowledge than he has ever heretofore had concerning the secret of living a life like that of his Lord and Master Jesus Christ. His desire is to enter into the secret of that fellowship which is found only in such a spotless life, a life wholly free from sin, a life which truly revealed to men the grace and the purity of the heavenly Father’s life and love. In the temporary absence of the President, Louis T. Talbot, the comments on these pages have come from the office of the Dean and Vice-President of the Institute, Elbert L. McCreery, and from the editorial department.
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