Thursday, July 9, 2009

Few Love the Cross of Jesus

An Excerpt from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis.

Jesus has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him.

Many follow Him to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many revere His miracles; few approach the shame of the Cross. Many love Him as long as thy encounter no hardship; many praise and bless Him as long as they receive some comfort from Him. But if Jesus hides Himself and leaves them for a while, they fall either into complaints or into deep dejection.

Those, on the contrary, who love Him for His own sake and not for any comfort of their own, bless Him in all trial and anguish of heart as well as in the bliss of consolation. Even if He should never give them consolation, yet they would continue to praise Him and wish always to give Him thanks.

What power there is in the pure love for Jesus—love that is free from all self-interest and self-love!

“Few Love the Cross of Jesus” p. 47

2 comments:

Rachel Guenther said...

Thank you for posting that Caryn. That absolutly hits my heart and stirs me to seek after God more and more. Great encouragement!

tiffany said...

I just looked through some of your pictures from your DR trip. It looks like your time was beneficial and totally blessed! Thank you so much for your ministry here (on this blog) and Kempton's ministry at church. You are a blessing.