- May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12giving thanks[d] to the Father, who has qualified you[e] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
One thing I will always admire about my father is his kind tone. It was warm, and felt trustworthy and sophisticated. Come to think of it, he never really had a lot of spunk, or slang. Reading this verse reminds me a lot of my father speaking to me.
"May you be". What humility! "May"! He didn't choose "should" or "could" or "definitely". It is a strong wish, much like a small child's wish for a gift. There is great uncertainty about what will happen, but that does not tarnish the gold and the iron resolve to wish all the more. How we have so moved beyond wishing. May we wish great things in our God who promises lavish promises to us! We don't throw pennies to a murky pond, but great thoughts and desires to the fountain of creation and life, YHWH.
"Strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might" This phrase brings to mind the very familiar boy's dream of being terribly powerful. All boys desire to be strong, courageous, a warrior of sorts, no matter what body we are gifted with. I imagine many many stories where the old master teaches his ways to his young apprentice, who has been entrusted with secret power. I also think of many stories where the young hero must sit and gather his great power for a difficult battle.
According to his glorious might. "According" means "along the same vein" or "as to be expected as" or "similar to". All power is parallel or similar to "his glorious might". What a peculiar topic! Do we see any glorious might before us? Do we see the potency of oblivion on display? Standard day to day living shows us very little of glorious might. What might we know of glorious might?
- He conquers death
- The world is upheld in constancy
- Our hearts go on without our commands
glorious = delightful; wonderful; completely enjoyable; brilliantly beautiful or magnificent
might = superior power or strength.
How utterly confusing these words are. How can there be beautiful strength? Or wonderful strength? And why are are reinforced by a beautiful/wonderful power/strength? If the battle demands "all" power. Why are we given "wonderful" strength?
- Guess: because Strongest power we are given is at the same time, the most wonderful news. Much like the best thing to do for an incapacitated soldier, is to give him his full health and fighting ability. What strong power, and also, how wonderful to have his arms and legs back!
"for all endurance and patience with joy"
The battle is not a dark wizard. No, it is not a band of thieves. it is not a long lost revenge seeking father either. It is fighting these foes day by day, repeatedly. Any small imp can topple strongholds given much persistence and determination. Perhaps this is why the bible sets us on that road also. One does not fight chess players with water guns, nor soldiers with 3-point basketball shots. Sword to sword, fist to fist, iron to iron.
The same persistent evil in the world that slowly steals at you must be fought with the same vigilance and determination. Each battle is dire. Distress is not to be given quarter either. If a battle is lost, vigilance must be preserved, do not cry over land lost, but press on for the land kept. And in the same way, conquer the darkness, our sin, our human weakness, ounce by ounce.
To do this for YEARS! What a thought. And to do so with JOY! Oh how weak our arms feel, and how hollow our legs seem. How can such a thing be possible? How can one be a such a soldier?
Only by Wonderful power.
No comments:
Post a Comment