PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE THIEVES
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
"Then said Christian to his friend, Hopeful, 'Now I remember something I was told about a good man who once lived in these parts. Then name of the man was Little Faith. He was a good man, and he lived in the town of Sincere."
This is the story that was told of Little Faith. As he was traveling on the road to the Celestial City, he was accosted by three brothers, Faint-Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt, who robbed him of everything except his Certificate that guaranteed entrance to the Celestial City. He was still a Christian, but having been beaten and robbed of all his precious jewels, he went on his journey, but without sustenance. So he had to beg, and lived mal-nourished. He had lost his joy and spent the rest of the time on his journey bitterly complaining, telling everyone how he was robbed, and wounded, and left for dead.
I have met people who have no joy in their Christian walk, and in fact, have been in their shoes. They can only talk of how hard it is to be a Christian. Satan's henchmen – like Guilt – rob people of their peace, their joy, and their confidence in God. Jesus has come to bring life abundant, but the enemy wants to steal our abundant life. To live without peace and joy is a miserable existence. Jesus has promised: "These things I have spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11), and "My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give unto you" (John 14:27). We can live with His joy and peace if we do not allow the enemy to steal them.
Love, Dad
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