As the two friends journeyed together, Faithful looked to one side and saw a man walking in the same direction. He was a tall man and looked more handsome at a distance than he did up close. (Those who like to talk about ‘all things divine’ but have no evidence of grace working in their heart, often have a good appearance on the surface.)
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 6 (A Faith Beyond Words)”The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 5 (A Faithful Friend)
As Christian came out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, he came to a little upward slope that had been put there for the purpose of helping pilgrims see what lay ahead of them. He climbed and from that height, he saw Faithful just ahead of him on his journey. He called aloud, “ Hello, hello! Wait right there, and I will come to you and be your companion.”
Faithful looked behind him, saw Christian, who cried out again, “Stay, stay, so I can catch up with you.”
But Faithful answered, “No, I am fleeing for my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me!”
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 5 (A Faithful Friend)”For Those with Eyes to See and Ears to Hear
From the Bible in One Year plan for 2021, from Nicky Gumbel, on the YouVersion bible app – today’s focus, day 21, is on being honest with God and he opens with a reflection of the Oxford dictionary choosing ‘Post-Truth’ as the word of the year for 2016.
Anyone who knows me, knows I would be triggered! 😣 pay close attention.
The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 4 (A Dark Valley)
From the excitement of the battle where Christian learns to rely on the Word of God and walks out of the Valley of Humiliation with his sword drawn, he enters the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He has no choice; it is on the way to the Celestial City – It is a place of depression and solitude.
When he got to the borders of the valley, he met two men coming toward him – children of those men who brought an evil report concerning the good land of Canaan. They were quickly retreating when Christian asked them where they were going.
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 4 (A Dark Valley)”The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 4 (A Fierce Battle)
He had just entered the Valley of Humiliation when Christian was immediately tested. He had not gone far before he saw a foul fiend coming over to meet him. His name was Apollyon.
Christian was afraid and struggled with what to do: should he go back or stand his ground? When he realized that having no armor for his back would make him an easy target for the enemy’s flaming arrows, he decided that standing his ground would give him the best chance of surviving Apollyon’s attack.
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 4 (A Fierce Battle)”The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 3 (Part 2)
When we last looked in on Christian’s journey, we left him at the top of Hill Difficulty, facing two lions in a narrow passageway, in the dark. The lions stood between him and House Beautiful, where he’d hoped to find lodging but instead, stood afraid and thought about going back, seeing nothing but death ahead of him.
Just then the porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, seeing that Christian had stopped his progress as if he would go back, cried out to him, asking, “Is your strength so small? Don’t fear the lions, for they are chained and are placed there to test your faith and to discover those who have none. Keep in the middle of the path, and no harm shall come to you.”
Scripture: Mark 8:34-37
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 3 (Part 2)”The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 3 (Part 1)
As Christian left the Interpreter, the highway that Christian climbed was fenced on both sides with a wall called Salvation. Christian ran till he came to a small hill, at the top of which stood a cross. At the bottom, was a tomb. When Christian walked up the hill to the cross, his burden came loose from his shoulders and fell off his back, tumbling down the hill until it came to the mouth of the tomb, where it fell in to be seen no more.
Chapter 3 – A Burden Lifted and a Journey Begun.
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 3 (Part 1)”The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 2 (Part 4)
Let’s finish this! We continue, like any other impatient Christian, to get through to the end of Chapter 2, so we can begin the rest of this journey. After Christian arrives at the Interpreter’s house, he tells him that Good-Will sent him to the house to be shown excellent things to help him on his journey.
The Interpreter agrees to show those things that will be profitable to Christian. Beginning with a picture, hanging on a wall, of a very grave person – a man with eyes lifted up to Heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of truth written upon his lips, and the world behind his back. He stood as if pleading with men, and a crown of gold hung over his head.
Then said Christian, “What does it mean?” (I try to guess myself, but yeah, I’ll wait for the Interpreter to explain as well 😉)
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 2 (Part 4)”The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 2 (Part 3)
We continue through Chapter 2 called, “The Way of the World or the Narrow Way.” Once Christian asks Evangelist for directions, he could not think himself safe until he had once again gotten back on the path that he had abandoned to follow Mr. Worldly-Wiseman’s counsel. After a while, he arrived at the gate, above which was written, “Knock and it will be opened to you.”
He knocked – more than once or twice.
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 2 (Part 3)”The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 2 (Part 2)
Worldly Wiseman gives simple enough instructions… they always do!!! “Do you see the hill in the distance? Go around that hill, and the first house you come to is his.” But as Christian neared the hill, he was struck by how high and foreboding it appeared. One side of the hill hung precariously over the path that wound its way around it, and Christian feared that the overhanging hill would fall on him.
Filled with fear; Christian stopped his journey and stood still.
Continue reading “The Pilgrim’s Progress – Chapter 2 (Part 2)”