ght is that what it most imports us to know is the Will of God,
a knowledge not of merely speculative points in the mysteries of the
divine nature, but of that Will which it concerns us to know because it
is our life to do it. The next element in Paul's desires, as set forth
in the ideal here, is a worthy walk, a practical life, or course of
conduct which is worthy of Jesus Christ, and in every respect pleases
Him. The highest purpose of knowledge is a good life. The surest
foundation for a good life is a full and clear knowledge of the Will of
God.

Then follow a series of clauses which seem to expand the idea of the
worthy walk and to be co-ordinate or perhaps slightly causal, and to
express the continuous condition of the soul which is walking worthily.
Let us endeavour to gather from these words some hints as to what it is
God's purpose that we should become.

I. The many-sided strength which may be ours.

The form of the word 'strengthened' here would be more fully represented
by 'being strengthened,' and suggests an unintermitted process of
bestowal and reception of God's might rendered necessary by our
continuous human weakness, and by the tear and wear of life. As in the
physical life there must be constant renewal because there is constant
waste, and as every bodily action involves destruction of tissue so that
living is a continual dying, so is it in the mental and still more in
the spiritual life. Just as there must be a perpetual oxygenation of
blood in the lungs, so there must be an uninterrupted renewal of
spiritual strength for the highest life. It is demanded by the
conditions of our human weakness. It is no less rendered necessary by
the nature of the divine strength imparted, which is ever communicating
itself, and like the ocean cannot but pour so much of its fulness as can
be received into every creek and crack on its shore.

The Apostle not merely emphasises the continuousness of this
communicated strength, but its many-sided variety, by designating it
'all power.' In this whole context that word 'all' seems to have a charm
for him. We read in this prayer of '_all_ spiritual wisdom,' of 'walking
worthily of the Lord unto _all_ pleasing,' of 'fruit in _every_ good
work,' and now of '_all_ power,' and lastly of '_all_ patience and
longsuffering.' These are not instances of being obsessed with a word,
but each of them has its own appropriate force, and here the
comprehensive completeness of the str