THE INCOMPARABLE GREATNESS OF GOD'S POWER
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"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, andtheincomparable greatness of His power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength" Ephesians 1:18-19
Come, my heart, satisfy and delight yourself, this morning, with the thought of what your mighty God can do for you — the grace He is able to give you now — the glory He is reserving for you — the uplifting, upholding, strengthening, and preserving power, which is all vested in His loving hands on your behalf. Here is a storehouse of riches on which your largest demands can make no perceptible diminishment — and all this is yours!
"Incomparable greatness." Yes, Lord — You power is more vast and wonderful than my poor finite mind can conceive.
Your power bids the sun to pour forth his radiant light and heat!
Your power holds the stars in space, and hangs the earth upon nothing!
Your power rules the universe with a word!
Is it not exceeding great? All nature shows Your handiwork, and Your wondrous power is as much seen in the lowest forms of life and growth — as in the nobler developments of Your creative hand. All the discoveries of science, all the revelations of its secrets which have of late so surprised and delighted us — are but glimpses of the infinite might and wisdom of the God whose "love is as great as His power, and neither knows measure nor end."
But, Lord, it is not on the majesty of Your Omnipotence as shown in Your material world — that I would meditate at this moment; it is "the incomparable greatness of His power for us who believe" which enthralls my heart, and thrills my soul with joy!
Help me to draw near to You, dear Lord, humbly and reverently, that I may "see this great sight!" For, though this is holy ground, and the bush burns with fire — there is no barrier, as of old, to prevent a near approach to You, seeing that, now, we "are made near by the blood of Christ."
If I have true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ — then the incomparable greatness of the power of the Most High God, "according to the working of His mighty power," is for me — is on my side. Or — I say it with deep reverence — at my service, always at hand to help, to guard, to defend, and to provide for me.
My pen pauses as I ask myself, "Do I believe this? Do any Christians really believe this? Is it possible that there can be among the feeble, doubting, self-engrossed, and half-hearted people that I see and hear of — any who possess the assurance that the power of the living God dwells in them, and that they 'can do all things through Christ who strengthens' them? If there are any such — why, oh why do they not walk worthy of their high calling?"
Look to yourself, O my soul. Is the incomparable greatness of the Lord's power manifest in you as it should be? Blessed be His Name, you can say, "He has redeemed me from death and Hell, pardoned my sins through the shedding of His precious blood, and given me a promise of life eternal in His presence!" But what more? Those are the cardinal gifts of His grace — the corner-stones of His mercy and love. What do you possess of the details of His mighty working, the filling-up, as it were, of the great plan of His will and design concerning you? What does "the effectual working of His power" produce in your heart and life? Are you wholly consecrated to His service? Have you given yourself and all that you have — into His loving hands? Are you filled with His Holy Spirit? Does He control every thought, and word, and deed? And are all the abilities of your being, and all the possessions of both soul and body — subject and surrendered to His absolute sway?
Ah, Lord! Your poor child sorrowfully confesses to falling very far short of the high standard of Christian life to which Your Word expects us to attain. In common with so many others, I seem to live at a "poor dying rate" — when I might have "life more abundantly!" I know that the possibilities of conformity to Christ, are only to be measured by the exceeding riches of Your grace, and the incomparable greatness of Your power — and yet I sometimes seem content without a full participation in the glorious experience which Your love offers.
Lord, enlighten and quicken me, I beseech You! Put forth in me the mighty grace which will make my daily life a clear proof that You are working Your own will in me, and giving me to know, at least in some measure — what is "the incomparable greatness of His power for us who believe."
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