Thomas a Kempis on Humility

“The fact that others know our faults and disapprove of them is often a great help in deepening our humility. When a person humbles himself for his failings, he easily satisfies others, and he appeases those who are angry with him. God protects and delivers a humble person; he cherishes and consoles him. God gives himself to a humble person; he bestows great grace on him, and after his humiliation he raises him to glory. God reveals his secrets to those who are humble, and he sweetly draws them and calls them to himself. The humble person in the midst of troubles is filled with peace, for he depends on God alone. Do not think that you have made progress unless you feel truly humble before God and others.”

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

For more Thomas a Kempis quotes see:

Thomas a Kempis on Wisdom

Thomas A Kempis on Waiting

Always Amending

More about Mourning

One of our authors, Sarah, posted recently about mourning (For those who are mourning). Today in my devotional reading, I found a bit more about this topic in Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis.

“A good man finds always sufficient cause for mourning and weeping. For whether he considers himself or thinks of his neighbor, he knows that none lives here without tribulation. And the more thoroughly a man considers himself, so much the more he sorrows.

Matter of just sorrow and inward contrition are our faults and sins, in which we lie so enwrapped that rarely have we power to contemplate the things of Heaven.”

For more about grief and mourning, see these posts:

Reclaiming Life: Faith, Hope and Suicide Loss–Film Review

Blessed to Mourn?

The Weeping Prophet

Thomas a Kempis on Judging Others

“Endeavor to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others, of whatever sort they be; for you also have many failings which must be borne by others (1 Thess. 5:15; Gal. 6:1). If you cannot make yourself such a one as you would, how will you be able to have another in all things to your liking?

We would willingly have others perfect, and yet not correct our own faults. We will have others severely corrected and will not be corrected ourselves. The large liberty of others displeases us, and yet we will not have our own desires denied us. We will have others bound down by ordinances, and we ourselves endure no further restraint.”

Thomas a Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ

For more Thomas a Kempis quotes, see these posts:

Thomas A Kempis on Waiting

Thomas a Kempis on Union with Christ

Always Amending

A Meditation on Death

“Blessed is he who always has the hour of his death before his eyes (Ecclesiastes 7:1), and daily prepares himself to die. If at any time you have seen another man die, remember you must also pass the same way (Hebrews 9:27). When it is morning, think you might not come to eventide. And when it is evening, dare not to promise yourself the morning. Always, therefore, be ready, and so live that death might not take you unprepared, for many die suddenly. When that last hour shall come, you will have a far different opinion of your whole past life and regret you have been so careless and remiss.”

Thomas a Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ

For more by Thomas a Kempis see these posts:

Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis–Book Review

Thomas a Kempis on Union with Christ

Thomas A Kempis on Waiting

How Does God Reveal Himself?

“Nevertheless, to some men, I speak common things, to others things special. To some I show Myself sweetly in signs and figures, while to some I reveal mysteries in much light. The voice of books is one, but it informs not all alike. Inwardly, I am the teacher, the truth, the searcher of the heart, the discerner of thoughts, the promoter of actions, distributing to every man as I shall judge meet.”

From Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

For more about Thomas a Kempis

Thomas A Kempis on Waiting

Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis–Book Review

Thomas a Kempis on Union with Christ

United with Christ through Holy Communion

“This I long for, that I may be wholly united unto Thee, and may withdraw my heart from all created things, and by means of sacred communion, and the frequent partaking thereof, may learn more and more to relish things heavenly and eternal. Ah, Lord God, when shall I be wholly made one with Thee and lost in Thee, and become altogether forgetful of myself? Thou in me, and I in Thee (John 15:4); so also grant that we may continue together in one. Verily, Thou are ‘my beloved …. the chiefest among ten thousand’ (Song of Solomon 5:10), in whom my soul is well pleased to dwell all the days of her life. Verily, Thou art my Peacemaker, in whom is the highest peace and true rest; out of whom is labor and sorrow and infinite misery. ‘Verily, thou art a God that hidest thyself’; (Isaiah 45:15) and Thy counsel is not with the wicked, but with the humble and ‘he giveth grace unto the lowly’ (Proverbs 3:34).”

From Of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

For more posts the sacrament of Holy Communion see:

Clarity about Communion

God’s Victory Through the Sacrament of Communion, part 1

God’s Victory Through the Sacrament of Communion, part 2

Thomas a Kempis on Union with Christ

“The doctrine of Christ exceeds all the doctrine of holy men; and he who has the Spirit will find therein ‘the hidden manna’ (Rev. 2:17). But many who hear the Gospel of Christ have little desire for it, because they ‘have not the Spirit of Christ’ (Romans 8:9). But whosoever will fully and with relish understand the words of Christ must endeavor to conform his life wholly to the life of Christ.”

Thomas a Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ

“You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if in fact the spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:9-10

For more about the book of Romans see:

Martin Luther on the Book of Romans

Being a Biblical Christian, part 2

You Are Not Swayed by Appearances