February 8th
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (ESV)
[after Evangelist saves Christian from Mr. Legality and Mount Doom, I mean, Mt. Sinai…]
So he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor, if any asked him, would he vouchsafe them an answer. He went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe, till again he was got into the way which he left to follow Mr. Wordly Wiseman’s counsel. So, in process of time, Christian got up to the gate. Now, over the gate there was written, “Knock; and it shall be opened unto you”.
He knocked therefore, more than once or twice, saying — “May I now enter here? Will he within open to sorry me, though I have been an undeserving rebel? Then shall I not fail to sing his lasting praise on high.” At last there came a grave person to the gate, named Goodwill, who asked who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have?
Christian spoke: ‘Here is a poor burdened sinner. I come from the city of Destruction; but am going to Mount Zion, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I would, therefore, sir, since I am informed that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to let me in.’
”I am willing, with all my heart,” said Goodwill. And with that he opened the gate
Christian said: “Evangelist bade me come hither and knock, as I did; and he said that you, sir, would tell me what I must do.”
Goodwill replied: “An open door is before thee; and no man can shut it. We make no objections against any; notwithstanding all that they have done before they come hither, they in no wise are cast out and, therefore, good Christian, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee: dost thou see this narrow way? that is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and his apostles; and it is as straight as a rule can make it: this is the way thou must go.
The text here is from a really beautiful copy of the Pilgrim’s Progress (especially considering the quality of most texts on the internet, and possibly my judgment is clouded by the fact that I didn’t have to type this entire thing out). Also, someone did a graphic novel adaption of the story, which, while I appreciate the idea, has horrific echoes of both the art and the… unique writing in Calvin Miller’s Singer Trilogy. (Apparently it’s a thing, I like the look of this adaptation a bit better, but haven’t read it.)
Tobymac’s Forgiveness, on Youtube and Spotify respectively
Mum's devotional 