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I have always been impressed with the Apostle Paul’s first prayer
in his letter to the Ephesians. He prays for his Christian friends
that they might know the incomparably great power that is
available to us who believe. He describes that power as being “like
the working of God’s mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ
when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20, NIV).
Resurrection power can be ours, in Christ, through prayer!
I don’t know how we would express this in physics or in energy
terms—maybe something like the mad scientist in the Back to the
Future movie, as “thousands of jigawatts.”
When Christ is alive in us we have power beyond our expectation
and previous experience. Paul’s second prayer in his letter to the
Ephesians gives glory to “him who is able to do immeasurably
more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is
at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20, NIV). It is not our limited
imagination that is the issue, but the Risen Christ’s unimaginable
power to change, to lift, to bless.
When Christ comes to us and as Christ continues to come to us
in His risen state—or when we choose to come to Him—we find
in that encounter a new power to live in God-honoring, peoplehelping,
personally satisfying ways.
When we meet Christ, whether directly in some mystical way
or more indirectly through the people and events of our lives, we
find our hearts warmed and our understanding of God’s Word
and purpose in Christ clarified (Luke 24:31-35).
As we welcome and let Christ-alive-again come to us, we
discover our doubts diminished and our faith rebounding; our
fears subsided and our peace burgeoning; our sadness transformed
to joy; our hopes renewed; our service reestablished and more
effective, rewarding and blessed—as was the case with Peter and
Thomas and the women witnesses who were the first to encounter
Christ resurrected.
May Christ meet us today in our disappointments and
darkness, our defeats and dismay, and turn our dreadful nights
into a delightful dawn and dynamic new day.
th E rE v. JA c k br o w n is the minister
of Olivet Congregational Church, Olivet,
Mich., an adjunct professor at Olivet College,
and secretary of the Michigan Congregational
Conference Camp Committee and of the
Central Michigan Congregational Association.
He has written many hymn texts and
annually leads a short-term mission trip to
Misiòn Mazahua in Mexico. Jack and his
wife, Pamela, have five adult sons, one of
whom is in full-time ministry.
Remember to Live
(New Life in Christ)
[Tune: Lyons (O Worship the King), Hanover 10.10.11.11]
Remember Christ’s work—this very Good News:
Now risen, He blesses, redeems and renews.
O bless now the Lord Christ, whose great Name we raise;
Do bless Him, extol Him, remember to praise.
Remember to sing and worship always;
From ashes to beauty, our nights into days.
Rejoicing we sing out to Him who restored;
Exalting Christ’s goodness, we honor our Lord.
Remember to dance, to get off the ground;
When lame folks were healed, they leaped all around;
Our Christ is still healing, His presence is proved—
Restored souls and bodies, responding in love.
Remember to pray; do ask for Christ’s grace;
Rely on His strength when challenge you face;
In asking and seeking, in knocking by prayer,
We find Christ is faithful, were we are—He’s there!
Remember to hope, keep trusting Christ’s love;
He knows what we need, He sees from above;
If you are discouraged and downcast with woe,
Just rest in the Lord and find peace for your soul.
Remember to hear what Christ has to say;
He is still living to help us today;
If we will just listen and open our ears
We’ll hear Christ’s “Peace!” echo, it calms all our fears.
Remember to look, Christ strengthens the weak;
Consider His touch – embolding the meek;
As we focus closely we see something grand,
We see exhibitions of Christ’s helping hand.
Remember to love, to bless and to give;
Encouraging friendship helps others to live;
By sharing we’re caring, to care is to give,
And giving is loving, by loving we live.
Remember to live, to live in this hour,
To live life, and fully, by Christ’s Spirit’s power.
In dying with Jesus to sin, self and shame,
We rise up to new life; it’s for this Christ came.
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