THE KING’S BUSINESS “ MY GIRLS”
336
By Mrs. H. J. Baldwin.
been opened and they have been led to accept Him? Not; even all the disciples were present. They ■might have been. It appears that they were too busy helping folks to take, time for prayer with Jesus. But without prayer and without Christ, ■ their efforts were powerless (v. 28). For Peter, James and John to get into this inner circle undoubtedly meant climbing mountains of difficulty—Mt. Bible Reading, Mt. Prayer, Mt. Love, Mt. Patience. God’s secrets, miracles, and surprises are for those persons who walk closely with Him. They say miracles are over, but the girl who lives in Christ finds life one round o f miracles and surprises. In which group are you ? What was Christ doing when transfig ured? (Read Luke 9:28, 29). Prayer is certain to transform, not alone our faces, but all our life. Tell God about the dis agreeable girl at our side, and she becomes more lovable. Tell God about the things we simply can’t do, and it becomes “ doable.” Tell God about the vexing disappointment and it becomes “His appointment.” Luke says Christ “ took Peter and John and James with Him to pray.” They often prayed together. Girls can you and your chums pray together? To be sure you are not always holding prayer meetings. But if you are in trouble are your cronies the kind o f girls who can kneel down and pray for you and with you? I f they can’t they may be good girls but they are surely not God’s best companions for you. What does the transfiguration teach about life hereafter? Moses had died perhaps 1500 years before, and Elijah had been car ried to heaven perhaps 1000 years before this. This proves that they were not dead as we so often call our loved ones in Christ who leave us. The disciples ,recog nized Moses and Elijah whom they had never seen on earth. This ought to assure us that we will recognize in glory those whom we have known on earth.
T T AVE your best friends fever misunder- -*• stood something you have said or done and misjudged and criticised you for it? It’s hard, for you have acted according to what you believed to be right and perhaps they are sincere too. Since Peter had ; made that wonderful confession that Jesus was Christ, God’s Son, the promised Redeemer, Jesus talked often o f His approaching death. The disciples expected Him any moment to launch forth a mighty king with material pomp and splendor. The idea o f death was an indescribable shock to them. It meant His failure and their disgrace. The disciples were dis couraged and may even have considered deserting Christ. To meet death was hard for Christ, but to be misunderstood by His best friends added hardship. God was not unmindful, He generally comes to the aid of His friends at such a time. Our lesson shows how He did it. Draw from your girls the story, then ask the following questions: What was the transfiguration? When Christ left heaven and came to earth to live as men He laid aside all the glory and majesty which were His as God (John 17:5; Phil. 2:6, 7). The disciples did not know this, neither were they aware that after Christ had paid for our sins by His death He would resume that glory. God for a moment threw back the curtain of heaven and gave the disciples a peep at Christ in heavenly glory. It helped the disciples to appreciate Him and steadied them for the testing ahead. For Christ, it was God’s approval o f Him and encour agement for the hard things ahead. While enemies wrangled and friends doubted, God allowed Christ the fellowship of friends from the other world, who shared His plans and hopes and understood His death. Who saw Christ transfigured? W e might think that God woyld have given the ques tioning crowds outside a glimpse o f the glorified Christ. Might not their eyes have
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