The book The Imitation of Christ which was penned by a German priest named Thomas a Kempis between 1418–1427. As I was reading through this classic work I was astounded how the author covered relevant truths that make it seem as though written earlier this week rather than over 500 years ago. Below is an excerpt from this truth revealing work which depicts a conversation between our Beloved and His child: (From The Imitation of Christ, Chapter 35: Of Entire Resignation of Self)
“My child, lose yourself and you will find Me. For more grace will be added to you as soon as you surrender yourself, and a long as you do not take yourself back again.”
Oh Lord, how of often do I need to surrender myself, and in what things should I lose myself?
“Always; ever hour: in the little things and the big thing. I make no exception but want you to be found stripped in all things. Otherwise how can you be Mine and I yours, unless you are free from every will of your own? The sooner you do this, the better will it be with you, and the more abundantly will you be rewarded.”
“Some surrender themselves but with certain reservations, for they do not fully trust in God, therefore they think that they have some provision to make for themselves. Some again at first offer everything, but later, being tempted they return to their own ways and thus make no progress in virtue. They will not attain to the true liberty of a pure heart, nor tho the grace of my sweet companionship, unless they first entirely surrender themselves and daily offer themselves up as as a sacrifice?”
“Many times I have said you toy, and now say again, ‘Give yourself up, surrender yourself, and you will have great inward peace.’ Give all for all; demand nothing, asking nothing in return; stand simply and with no hesitation in Me and you will possess Me. You will have liberty of heart, and the darkness will not overwhelm you. Strive for this, pray for it, long after it, that you may be delivered from all possession of yourself and unreservedly follow Jesus, may die to yourself and live eternally for Me. Then will all vain thoughts disappear, all spiritual unrest, and superfluous cares. Then also will fear depart from you, and lust shall die.”
Luke 9:23-24
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Philippians 3:7-14
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”