五月十二日

並且要向他顯現。（約14：21）

主耶穌特特向屬他的人顯現。假若《聖經》上不記載這話，許多神的兒女可以從自己的經驗中證實這是真確的。他們的主，救主耶穌基督常以特殊的方式向他們顯現，但這並非道聽途說。著名聖徒的傳記中有很多這樣的例證，當他們得了耶穌的喜悅時，耶穌便用一種特殊的方式對他們的心靈說話，並把他的奇妙揭示出來，因此他們的心靈沉浸在喜樂之中，好似在天堂上一樣。其實他們還不在天堂，可是他們卻靠近天堂的門檻了。——因為耶穌向他的民顯現，在地就如在天；樂園端倪已現，靈中福樂已始。基督在信徒心中的特別顯現，便可發生一種聖潔的影響。一種影響是謙卑。若有人說：“我有某種某種屬靈的交通，我是一個了不起的人。”其實他並未與耶穌有什麼交通，因為，“耶和華雖高，仍看顧低微的人，他卻從遠處看出驕傲的人。”他用不到靠近就知道他們，並且他也絕不會以愛惠臨他們。另一種影響是喜樂。因為在神的面前就有永遠的快樂。聖潔也不能不隨以俱來。一個人若不聖潔就證明他絕沒有這種顯現。有人說了很多誇張的話，但若他們的行為與言詞相符，我們才能信任他們。“不要自欺，神是輕慢不得的。”他必不喜悅惡人，因為他絕不拋棄一個完全人，也不看重一個作惡的人。因此親近耶穌在生活上便發生三種影響一一謙卑、喜樂和聖潔。基督徒啊！願神把這一切都給你。

May 12

"And will manifest myself to him." -- John 14:21

The Lord Jesus gives special revelations of Himself to His people. Even if Scripture did not declare this, there are many of the children of God who could testify the truth of it from their own experience. They have had manifestations of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a peculiar manner, such as no mere reading or hearing could afford. In the biographies of eminent saints, you will find many instances recorded in which Jesus has been pleased, in a very special manner to speak to their souls, and to unfold the wonders of His person; yea, so have their souls been steeped in happiness that they have thought themselves to be in heaven, whereas they were not there, though they were well nigh on the threshold of it--for when Jesus manifests Himself to His people, it is heaven on earth; it is paradise in embryo; it is bliss begun. Especial manifestations of Christ exercise a holy influence on the believer's heart. One effect will be humility. If a man says, "I have had such-and-such spiritual communications, I am a great man," he has never had any communion with Jesus at all; for "God hath respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off." He does not need to come near them to know them, and will never give them any visits of love. Another effect will be happiness; for in God's presence there are pleasures for evermore. Holiness will be sure to follow. A man who has no holiness has never had this manifestation. Some men profess a great deal; but we must not believe any one unless we see that his deeds answer to what he says. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked." He will not bestow His favours upon the wicked: for while He will not cast away a perfect man, neither will He respect an evil doer. Thus there will be three effects of nearness to Jesus--humility, happiness, and holiness. May God give them to thee, Christian!