Pilgrim's Chapter 9: Palace Beautiful

Christian now bore the seal of the King, and was clothed in the robes of righteousness...

Forward this Email to a Friend Palace Beautiful Email 9 in a 16 part series on the 16 Worlds of The Pilgrim's Progress "Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it." —Gen. 4:7 [ESV] All of the powers of darkness had failed to keep Christian from Salvation Hill. Christian now bore the seal of the King, and was clothed in the robes of righteousness. He had received a new status before the King; he was now like a prince, a royal son.  In Apollyon's lair, the failed Supervisor cowered before the master of the demons. They had failed to persuade Christian to leave the King's path, and Apollyon was enraged. Not only had Christian gotten away, but his own demon servant suggested giving up and letting Christian be. "Let him be, LET HIM BE?!" Apollyon seethed at his incompetent servant. "The fool is a greater threat to us now than he was before!"  The problem for Apollyon was that Christian's faithful journey on the path would inspire others to follow after him, leaving the City of Destruction—and Apollyon's rule over them—behind.  So too when we glorify God with our lives and follow His commands will we inspire others to do the same. A life that mirrors Christ and His self-sacrificial love stands out among those lived in service of self. Jesus told His disciples, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) Our love for God and our neighbor testifies to the truthfulness of God's message, and can be an encouragement for others to follow Him.  A life that mirrors Christ and His self-sacrificial love stands out among those lived in service of self. Back on the path, Christian emerged from the forest in the darkness. He saw the Palace Beautiful ahead. But, he heard something strange—a rustling of forest animals perhaps? He quickly realized that the stone lions flanking the path were moving! Roaring, the lions knocked Christian over in fear. Their eyes glowed red as they moved closer.  "What shall I do?" His voice shook, "I must go forward." Christian quietly breathed out "help," and lunged forward, barely passing between their massive heads and gaping jaws. The lions, though fierce and intimidating, were chained and could not reach Christian.  A man named Watchful immediately opened the door of the palace for Christian, and let him inside. "Come now, good Christian, you have shown great courage. You have passed a trial of faith." Watchful, along with his daughters, Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence, welcomed Christian into their Palace which was built by the King to refresh weary travelers. Piety encouraged Christian: "Others have taken the same path you now journey on. Let their example be an encouragement to you, for you are now part of their glorious company. You no longer walk alone."  For those who believe in Jesus, the Christian life is not a life lived alone. Unity among believers in the church is one of the most glorious benefits of trust in Christ. Together, Christians stand united to follow the King, relying on one another as they travel the path God has called them to take. Not only do other Christians bestow insight, wisdom, and knowledge, but they can also be great examples of faithfulness.  For those who believe in Jesus, the Christian life is not a life lived alone. As Christian lamented leaving his family behind, the daughters of Watchful reminded him that none of his tears for his family fell without the King seeing. The King understood his pain, and cared for him. This is true for us as well. God sees each and every one of us, and He knows what we have endured. Trust in Him, and be encouraged. For, "He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth." —Isaiah 25:8 Fellow believers can bring needed encouragement and comfort when we are worried or sad. Christian's time at the Palace Beautiful gave him the rest that he needed to prepare him for the battle ahead. The church functions in the same way for us. We need the refreshment of being among other Christians, and we need to be prepared continually for the battles we face in our daily lives. With the strength given to us by the Lord, and the companionship of fellow believers, there is no battle in this life that we cannot face.   WATCH THE PILGRILM'S PROGRESS ONLINE FOR FREE Help Produce The 16 Worlds of The Pilgrim's Progress and Reserve Your Free Copy! The 16 Worlds of The Pilgrim's Progress: The Journey Begins is a devotional book which contains 16 lessons and a video collection that guides individuals through Christian's journey from this world to that which is to come. It will feature The Pilgrim's Progress movie, broken into 16 powerful segments. These segments are designed to disciple the next generation to stay on the straight path. Each of the 16 chapters will also will feature all new, exclusive video content with special guests, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of The Pilgrim's Progress movie.   Help Produce the 16 Worlds of The Pilgrim's Progress Devotional Copyright © 2021 RevelationMedia, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: RevelationMedia PO Box 850005 Richardson, Texas 75085 Add us to your address book

Want to change how you receive these emails?

You can *update your preferences or *unsubscribe from this list

Subscription Information

This email was sent to Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog 

*the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally