February 27

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled¹ a man with him until the breaking of the day." (Gen. 32:24)

Left alone! What different sensations those words conjure² up to each of us. To some they spell loneliness and desolation, to others rest and quiet. To be left alone without God, would be too awful for words, but to be left alone with Him is a foretaste of Heaven! If His followers³ spent more time alone with Him, we should have spiritual giants again.

The Master set us an example. Note how often He went to be alone with God; and He had a mighty⁴ purpose behind the command, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray."(Mt.6:6)

The greatest miracles of Elijah and Elisha took place when they were alone with God. It was alone with God that Jacob became a prince; and just there that we, too, may become princes━"men (aye, and women too!) wondered at" (Gen. 32:28). Joshua was alone when the Lord came to him. (Josh. 1:1) Gideon and Jephthah were by themselves when commissioned to save Israel. (Judges 6:11 and 11:29) Moses was by himself at the wilderness⁵ bush. (Exodus 3:1-5) Cornelius was praying by himself when the angel came to him. (Acts 10:2) No one was with Peter on the house top, when he was instructed to go to the Gentiles. (Acts 10:9) John the Baptist was alone in the wilderness (Luke 1:80), and John the Beloved alone in Patmos, when nearest God. (Rev. 1:9)

Covet⁶ to get alone with God. If we neglect it, we not only rob ourselves, but others too, of blessing⁷, since when we are blessed we are able to pass on blessing to others. It may mean less outside work; it must mean more depth and power, and the consequence, too, will be "they saw no man save Jesus only."(Mt.17:8) ━Selected

二月二十七日

“只剩下雅各布一人；有一个人来和他摔交，直到黎明” （创卅二：24）

　　剩下一人！我们各人对于这四个字都有不同的感觉。有人剩下一人时感觉何等孤单寂寞；也有人剩下一人时感觉幽静，可得安息。总之，剩下一人而没有神同在，是太凄凉的事；剩下一人而有主同在的话，是预尝天上的光景！如果神的儿女能多和祂单独接触，我们都要变作属灵的伟人了。

　　我们的主给我们作了一个榜样。多少次数祂独自退去单独亲近神；祂吩咐我们“你祷告的时侯，要进你的内屋，关上门”（太六：6）的目的，乃是要我们单独亲近神。

　　伊莱贾和伊莱沙最大的神迹，乃是在他们单独亲近神的时侯出现的。雅各布在单独亲近神的时侯，成为一个王子。（以色列的意思就是王子）。我们若单独亲近神,也能成为王子。乔舒亚在单独亲近神的时侯，得到胜利的把握 (书1:1)。基甸和耶弗他在单独亲近神的时侯，得到神的遣征。(士6:11 及11:29) 摩西独自在旷野中的时候，看见神的异象。(出3:1-5) 哥尼流在独自祷告的时候，看见天使。(徒10:2) 彼得独自在房顶上与神单独接触的时侯，受神托付到外邦人中去 (徒10:9)。施洗约翰独自住在旷野 (路1:80)；耶稣所爱的门徒约翰独自在拔摩海岛上，孤单中他最接近神，所以得到了神最大的启示。(启1:9)

　　让我们渴慕单独和神亲近。如果我们把这件事情忽略了，我们就要失去树和枝子的交通，能力，以及天上各样属灵的福气。这是何等大的损失呢？并且我们不但剥夺了自己的祝福，也剥夺了别人的祝福，因为在我们自己得到祝福的时侯，我们纔能带祝福给别人。单独亲近神也许要减少我们外面的工作；但是单独亲近神会给我们更大的能力；结果，我们就会“不见一人，只见耶稣在那里”。（太十七：8）━选

1 wrestled   

v.（与某人）搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 )；扭成一团；扭打；（与…）摔跤

参考例句：

• As a boy he had boxed and wrestled. 他小的时候又是打拳又是摔跤。
• Armed guards wrestled with the intruder. 武装警卫和闯入者扭打起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 conjure   

v.恳求，祈求；变魔术，变戏法

参考例句：

• I conjure you not to betray me.我恳求你不要背弃我。
• I can't simply conjure up the money out of thin air.我是不能像变魔术似的把钱变来。

3 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

4 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

5 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

6 covet   

vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西)

参考例句：

• We do not covet anything from any nation.我们不觊觎任何国家的任何东西。
• Many large companies covet these low-cost acquisition of troubled small companies.许多大公司都觊觎低价收购这些陷入困境的小公司。

7 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。