Here is an excerpt from Thomas a Kempis that is very direct and challenging. I encourage you to read it thoughtfully and let it's message direct you into the reality of our call as believers.
HAVING A HUMBLE OPINION OF ONE'S SELF by Thomas a Kempis
Everyone has a natural desire for knowledge but what good is knowledge without the fear of God? Surely a humble peasant who serves God is better than the proud astronomer who knows how to chart the heavens' stars but lacks all knowledge of himself.
If I truly knew myself I would look upon myself as insignificant and would not find joy in hearing others praise me. If I knew everything in the world and were still without love, what advantage would I have in the eyes of God who is to judge me according to my deeds?
Curb all undue desire for knowledge, for in it you will find many distractions and much delusion. Those who are learned strive to give the appearance of being wise and desire to be recognized as such; but there is much knowledge that is of little or no benefit to the soul.
Whoever sets his mind on anything other than what serves his salvation is a senseless fool. A barrage of words does not make the soul happy, but a good life gladdens the mind and a pure conscience generates a bountiful confidence in God.
The more things you know and the better you know them, the more severe will your judgment be, unless you have also lived a holier life. Do not boast about the learning and skills that are yours; rather, be cautious since you do possess such knowledge.
If it seems to you that you know many things and thoroughly understand them all realize that there are countless other things of which you are ignorant. Be not haughty, but admit your ignorance. Why should you prefer yourself to another, when there are many who are more learned and better trained in God's law than you are? If you are looking for knowledge and a learning that is useful to you, then love to be unknown and esteemed as nothing.
This is the most important and salutary lesson: to know and to despise ourselves. It is great wisdom and perfection to consider ourselves as nothing and always to judge well and highly of others. If you should see someone commit a sin or some grievous wrong, do not think of yourself as someone better, for you know not how long you will remain in your good state.
We are all frail; but think of yourself as one who is more frail than others.
Monday, March 15, 2010
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2 comments:
without Love we are nothing
just a clanging cymbal...so true
even knowledge and wisdom come from God -we are nothing without Him.
All glory and honor to the king! Even those that do not believe in Jesus, God has gifted them and yet they do not call him father. They follow another or worship themselves, in ignorance. Truly there is peace in Jesus, in His righteousness, John 8:13.Even Jesus looked to God the father saying all that he heard was from the father, John 16:15, just one scripture of many where he refers to God the father, and how He knew these things? (John 15), was because He was one with the father. I think of all I still don't know and glory in Jesus that he does when I need to and I can call on Jesus. Signed a humble servant
"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men." "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:1-8, 11-16
We should all be humble in the sight of the Lord working out our salvation in fear and trembling for the day of the Lord is near and if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Let us obey the gospel and not man, let us follow Christ and not man, let us worship the King and not man, let us keep our focus on the one who can destroy flesh and spirit and not man who can only destroy the flesh; but let us appreciate those who diligently labor among us, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. "Therefore, peter exhorted the elders among the churches, as a fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, that they shepherd the flock of God among them, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:1-7 Hence, we need to live in unity and peace with one another. God Bless.
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