you earnestly looking to receive power from on high? To such come the
life-giving voice of the Word who utters God, and the life that is in
God.

It is important to notice that in Christ's word to the sick, "Rise, take
up thy bed, and walk," three things are implied--

1. There must be a prompt response to Christ's word. He does not heal
any one who lies sluggishly waiting to see what that word will effect.
There must be a hearty and immediate recognition of the speaker's truth
and power. We cannot say to what extent the impotent man would feel a
current of nervous energy invigorating him. Probably this consciousness
of new strength would only succeed his cordial reliance on the word of
Christ. Obey Christ, and you will find strength enough. Believe in His
power to give you new life, and you will have it. But do not hesitate,
do not question, do not delay.

2. There must be no thought of failure, no making provision for a
relapse; the bed must be rolled up as no longer needed. How do those
diseased men of the Gospels rebuke us! We seem always half in doubt
whether we should make bold to live as whole men. We take a few feeble
steps, and return to the bed we have left. From life by faith in Christ
we sink back to life as we knew it without Christ--a life attempting
little, and counting it a thing too high for us to put ourselves and our
all at God's disposal. If we set out to swim the Channel we take care to
have a boat within hail to pick us up if we become exhausted. To make
provision for failure is in the Christian life to secure failure. It
betrays a half-heartedness in our faith, a lurking unbelief which must
bring disaster. Have we rolled up our bed and tossed it aside? If Christ
fails us, have we nothing to fall back upon? Is it faith in Him that
really keeps us going? Is it His view of the world and of all that is in
it that we have accepted; or do we merely take a few steps on His
principles, but in the main make our bed in the ordinary unenlightened
worldly life?

3. There must be a continuous use made of the strength Christ gives. The
man who had lain for thirty-eight years was told to _walk_. We must
confront many duties without any past experience to assure us of
success. We must proceed to do them in faith--in the faith that He who
bids us do them will give us strength for them. Take your place at once
among healthy men; recognise the responsibilities of life. Find an
outlet for the new strength in yo