November 8

“He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray, and as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance¹ was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering…they saw his glory” (Luke 9:29, 32)

“If I have found grace in thy sight, show me thy glory”(Exod.33:13)

When Jesus took these three disciples² up into that high mountain apart, He brought them into close communion with Himself. They saw no man but Jesus only; and it was good to be there. Heaven is not far from those who tarry on the mount with their Lord.

Who has not in moments of meditation³ and prayer caught a glimpse of opening gates? Who has not in the secret place of holy communion felt the rush of some white surging wave of emotion--a foretaste of the joy of the blessed?

The Master had times and places for quiet converse⁴ with His disciples, once on the peak of Hermon, but oftener on the sacred slopes of Olivet. Every Christian⁵ should have his Olivet. Most of us, especially in the cities and towns, live at high pressure. From early morning until bedtime we are exposed to the whirl. Amid all this maelstrom⁶ how little chance for quiet thought, for God's Word, for prayer and heart fellowship!

Daniel needed to have an Olivet in his chamber⁷ amid Babylon's roar and idolatries. Peter found his on a housetop in Joppa; and Martin Luther found his in the“upper room” at Wittenberg, which is still held sacred.

Dr. Joseph Parker once said: "If we do not get back to visions, peeps into heaven, consciousness of the higher glory and the larger life, we shall lose our religion; our altar will become a bare stone, unblessed by visitant from Heaven." Here is the world's need today━men who have seen their Lord. ━The Lost Art of Meditation

Come close to Him! He may take you today up into the mountain top, for where He took Peter with his blundering, and James and John, those sons of thunder who again and again so utterly⁸ misunderstood their Master and His mission, there is no reason why He should not take you. So don't shut yourself out of it and say, “Ah, these wonderful visions and revelations of the Lord are for choice spirits!” They may be for you! ━John McNeill

十一月八日

「耶稣带着彼得、约翰、雅各布，上山去祷告。正祷告的时候，祂的面貌就改变了，衣服洁白放光…他们看见耶稣的荣光。」（路九28~29，32，直译）

「我如今若在祢眼前蒙恩，求祢将祢的道指示我。（出卅三:13）

耶稣带着这三个门徒，暗暗的上了高山，和他们在那里有一个极亲密的交通。他们不见一人，只见耶稣在那里；啊！他们在那里眞好！

凡与主同在山上的人，天离他们不远了。

有多少人，在默想祷告的时候，看见天开了。有多少人，在密室里与神交通的时候，感觉一阵汹涌的波涛突然冲进来。这些都是预尝天上的快乐。

主耶稣在世的时候，常和祂的门徒到安静的山上去谈话。今天我们呢？我们的生活多么急促━从早到晚过着极其纷乱的生活。在这恶势力之下，安静默想、读经祈祷，与主交通的机会多么少啊！

但以理在巴比伦的吼怒、迷信之下，仍不忽略他的密室生活。彼得的密室在约帕的一个房顶上；马丁路得的密室在韦伯登的一间上房里。━译自已失去的默想的艺术

信徒阿，来亲近主！也许主今天要带你上山顶去；不要想只有彼得、约翰、雅各布是配去的；彼得是一个最会闯祸的人，雅各布和约翰是火气最大的人，他们曾一再误会他们的主和主的使命；所以没有理由可以叫主不带你去。你不要自暴自弃地说：「啊，这些奇异的经历是只有最少数的属灵人能得到的！」也许你今天就能得到呢！━马克乃尔

1 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

2 disciples   

n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一

参考例句：

• Judas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. 犹大是耶稣十二门徒之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• "The names of the first two disciples were --" “最初的两个门徒的名字是——” 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

3 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

4 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 maelstrom   

n.大乱动；大漩涡

参考例句：

• Inside,she was a maelstrom of churning emotions.她心中的情感似波涛汹涌，起伏不定。
• The anxious person has the spirit like a maelstrom.焦虑的人的精神世界就像一个大漩涡。

7 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

8 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。