The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-12
The Faith That Makes Power.
Terse Comments for April 10, Il Can
Do All Things" Phil. A ID.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.)

J
| CBY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
"Shun ambition." cries the poet.
Well that depends on the ambition.
The greatest boon that could come to
| a few million persons would be an at
! tack of ambition. They do not achieve
| because they do not aspire. They sore
| " need to be aroused from their self
complacency in living little lives for
! little ends Wherever the New Tesla
| ment has had free course in the minds
of people it has melted them to nobler
character and nobler activity. Beyond
| question. Christianity has been the
! greatest spur applied to mortal
! minds. This is the explanation Of the
| obvious fact that Christians rule the
world today The civilization that is
attuned to the keynote of the Apostle
PauTs magnificent declaration, IT can
do all things through Christ which
| strengtheneth me-. is headed straight
| for the kingdom of heaven.
with his lot, but never satisfied with
| himself.
Not all dynamite doings are out
RACES The Greek original of that
word dynamite is a favorte with
New Testament writer's. Commonly
it is translated power The gospel
is dynamite. It has blown over most
of the institutions of heathendom.
Where is slavery today? Blown up
lines of glorious Greece and powerful
Rome? Blown up by the gospel:
Where is the universal illiteracy of
mankind? Blown up by the gospel.
Where are the expressions and cruel
ties toward the toilers, and the subJu-
cation of womankind, which once were
general? Blown up by the gospel.
And, more constructively, what has
made the slave over into the Christian
freeman? The power of the gospel.
What has liberated minds as well as
bodies. so that the worlds great liter
ature today is a Christian literature?
The power of the gospel What has
written into the statute books of ma
tons the world around new laws of
liberty education and human well-be-
ing? The power of the gospel. The
warrant that the gospel of Christ will
accomplish the great tasks which re-
main for it is the historical evidence
of its past accomplishments
There is no task on earth that is
beyond the power of one man leagued
with God.
The very genius of Christianity had
been caught by Carey whene he wrote
Expect great things from God; at
tempt great things for God This
spirit of high emprise, this daring de-
votion to difficult deeds, has ample
New Testament warrant. 1t is apos-
tolic. When God finds man or wom-
an who is willing to adventure mighty
tasks for the Names sake. he fills his
hands and his life-and continually
enlarges the capacity of both
Notices sometimes explain careers.
One man who had risen from lowli-
ness to a position of really world
wide influence was asked. in conf
dence. the reason. For he had pos
sessed no education. no influential
friends, and no special opportunities.
The answer spoken in the frankness
of intimate friendship. and not for
the public ear. was this: CAS- a boy.
l got hold of the truth. I can do all
things through Christ which
strengtheneth me- That became my
life motto. Everything 1 have dared
Or done has been in vindication of
that truth. I have trusted Christ
greatly, and have found Him greatly
true
Strength is one thing. and power is
another. The giant of Gath had
strength, David had power.-Moody.
We have a supernatural work to do,
and We must have supernatural power
with which to do it.-A. J. Gordon.
So great is the work of the kingdom
hat only they who are conscious of
.7m1tless power impaired from God
would dare undertake it. Spiritual
service. even in its elemental forms is
ar beyond mere human capacity. I'm
'esS helped from above we abor in
vain below. Except the Lord build
the house, they labor in vain that
build it,
What man has done. man can do"
That familiar epigram has spurred
many youths ambition. 1t is pro-
foundlv true. What Christians have
lone Christians may do. The power
that made Paul also made Whitefie1d
and Wesley and Moody. A Christian
may be helped by God to become s
great a servant as he dares to be-
In the -tpidgin English" of the
China coast one of the commonest
phrases is. can do" The master says
to the servant, Can do?" The servant
answers, can do" A good worker
Is a can do man. He has effician-
cy- To lift the figure up to high