Today’s Devotional – February 22nd (Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 3)
By admin On January 16th, 2021.
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Today’s Devotional – February 22nd
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Picture of a Very Grave Man,
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Part 3
You may also read Part 1, “Picture of a Very Grave Man, Part 1”
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“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:
in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,”
Titus 2:7Â
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Some of the devotionals on this website, as of late, have showcased the various aspects of John Bunyan’s earthshaking allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress.
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And yesterday, the “picture of a very grave man” was discussed. Â
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Pilgrims Progress title page third edition 1679 – Wikimedia Commons – public-domain
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100% DEDICATION
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Now just what did this picture represent?
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Again, hear the “Interpreter” as he talks with Christian, the pilgrim, regarding this picture…
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INTERPRETER: “The Man whose Picture this is, is one of a thousand…And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lift up to Heaven, the best of Books in his hand, and the Law of Truth written on his lips, it is to shew thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men; and whereas thou seest the World as cast behind him, and that a Crown hangs over his head, that is to shew thee that slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master’s service, he is sure in the world that comes next, to have Glory for his reward.”
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Well, the Old English in this above quote is a bit difficult to understand. But basically, this picture described by Interpreter is a symbolic picture of “total Christian dedication”!
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Yes, this man in this picture is a symbol of a true Christian.
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A watchful Christian.
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A serious-minded man of God.
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PICTURE: Man with world behind his back – public domain
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WHO IS THAT MAN?
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Now the true identity of this man in the picture is not given, although the Interpreter hinted that he was very Christ-like.
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But the Interpreter warned the pilgrim that this man was the only one trustworthy to advise pilgrims, who wind up in difficult circumstances as they journey to the heavenly city.
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And furthermore, he warned the pilgrim that those who DO NOT measure up to this picture are NOT to be trusted as advisers.
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And this is the point of today’s devotional.
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PICTURE: Man with world behind his back – public domain
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PAUL WAS LIKE THIS MAN!
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Now the apostle, Paul, was such a man as the man in this picture.
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Yes, Paul had all the qualities that this “very grave man” had in the picture.
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Paul, like this very grave man, was constantly pleading with others to forsake this present world for the glory of the world to come.
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And Paul, like this man, had the best of books, i.e., the Bible in his hand.
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And the truth was on his lips.
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And like this man, Paul too, was focused upward on Christ and upward toward Heaven.
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And like this man in the picture, Paul too, had renounced this present world, for the glory of the world to come.
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Yes, Paul was the very essence of all these qualities that were present in that very symbolic picture shown by the Interpreter to Christian, the pilgrim (as well as all the other Bible writers too!)
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Paul Converted – www.thebiblerevival.com
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PAUL FORSOOK ALL!
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Listen to Paul… “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” Philippians 3:8.
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Paul definitely had the world cast behind him, as evidenced by this statement!
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As a matter of fact, Paul proclaimed… “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14.
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And this statement clarifies that Paul was crucified from this present world! Yes, Paul had no interest in the pleasures and pursuits and hobbies and intrigues of this world. His entire mind was focused on Christ!
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And if there be any doubt left that Paul had cast the world behind him, just one more statement is offered… “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.
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Now does this statement sound like it comes from a man who is worldly-minded?
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Do any of these three statements give even a hint of worldly-mindedness?
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Hardly!
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Paul Shipwrecked Acts 27:41-44-www.lavistachurchofchrist.org–public domain
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SO, WHAT’S ALL THIS GOT TO DO WITH ME!?
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Now there are many who will say to all these things, “Well, so what has that got to do with me? Paul was a specially ordained man of God!”
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To such comes the answer, straight from the lips of Paul… “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am (a follower) of Christ…Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” 1st Corinthians 11:1 & Philippians 4:9
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So, if we are to be followers of Paul, even as Paul was a follower of Jesus, then it can be confidently said, that the picture of a very grave person should likewise be a portrait of you, and of me, and of any and every person who dares take the name of Jesus on his, or her lips!
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LOVE, JOY, PEACE, CONTENTMENT
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” Galatians 5:22
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Now it should be repeated that the Devil loves to whisper in the ears of naïve Christians, “Oh that dour & sour Christian life is such a joyless, bleak, and miserable existence, filled with sorrow and strife!”
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But nothing could be further from the truth!
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This above verse from Galatians reveals that the very first qualities of the Christian life are, “love, joy, peace…”
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Yes, these three qualities can only be truly experienced by the child of God.
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Oh yes, the world has its counterfeits of these Heavenly virtues!
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But all the giddiness, frivolity and vain laughter of the world, can never begin to come close to the true, “love, joy, peace…”! But the vain frivolity and laughter of the world are rather like “the crackling of thorns in a fire!” (See Ecclesiastes 7:6)
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But Christians, true Christians should always have a “peace which surpasses all human understanding”! Philippians 4:7
Woman with Bible – Braet von Ãœberfeldt – 1866 – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Open Thou mine eyes to see if I am cherishing any earthly idol. Help me to cast away any secret idol…
Girl Praying – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Fleeing to the Mountains, Part 3: The Abomination in My Heart”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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WOMAN FLEEING TO NARROW GATE
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This most amazing phenomenon is seen throughout the winter. Although it can be observed most of the winter, it is seen best when it is the western part of the sky, at winter’s end (The end of winter being the final scene of this heavenly Gospel story). Orion , the Dragon, and the Glorious White Horse are beginning to descend into the western horizon (sketch to right is Winter Constellations descending into western horizon. This can actually be seen as early as December, in the pre-dawn hours).
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And at this point it is apparent that the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation is veering toward the two bright stars, known as Castor and Pollux (sketch to left). But the Wide Gate Stars are composed of the two brightest stars of the Auriga Constellation, known as the star, Capella, and the star, Menkalinan. The two stars, Castor and Pollux, make up the concept of the Orion’s Narrow Gate Stars.
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This can even be observed into June in the western sky (for a short time just after dark). While a dark night is best for seeing the Woman Constellation, the 4 stars which comprise the Narrow Gate/Wide Gate Stars can be seen even under mediocre conditions. It begins with the Fleeing Woman of Revelation 12 Constellation (AKA Ursa Major) going towards these two doors.
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The sketch to left shows, the two doors are each composed of two bright stars. The two bright stars that comprise the Narrow Gate are the two brightest stars of the Orion the Reaper’s sickle. The two stars that comprise the ‘Wide Gate’ Stars are the two brightest stars of the wave of water that comes out of the Dragon Constellation’s mouth (for explanation of “Wave of Water”, just click here). The stars that make up the ‘Narrow Gate’ are about half the width of the Wide Gate (see sketch below left).
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(For more information on Orion’s sickle, just click here, “Orion The Reaper”. )
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Editor’s note: These sketches on this page are merely sketches. The stars are not in their exact place. However, they are close enough to find them in the night sky. But as with most stars, it takes persistence to finally locate them.
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ABOVE PICTURE late winter – Revelation 12 Woman & Orion’s Narrow Gate (Castor and Pollux of Gemini Constellation) & Wide Gate (two stars of the Auriga Constellation)
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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TOMORROW…
February 23rd . . . . Jesus: A Walking Symphony
LaViotti Chamber Orchestra Mozart – Wikimedia pub. domain
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAHÂ
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
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THIS STUDY #53 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain