Book 01: Sect. 02: Chapter 7: Loving Jesus Above All Things

Scout · #1 Aug 26, '05, 10:46 am

Chapter 7: Loving Jesus Above All Things
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.TWO.7.html

Scout

WanderAimlessly · #2 Aug 26, '05, 4:56 pm

Blessed is he who appreciates what it is to love Jesus and who despises himself for the sake of Jesus. Give up all other love for His, since He wishes to be loved alone above all things.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."(Mt. 22: 37-40 RSV).

These are the greatest commandments as Jesus tells us. For when we are centered on our love for God, our love for our fellow man will follow. God’s love is enduring and will not waver like some of our fellow man.

The part I cannot understand about Kempis’ opening paragraph is “who despises himself for the sake of Jesus“. How can one despise himself and love God.

PF

Grace and Glory · #3 Aug 26, '05, 5:55 pm

I think (and this is just my opinion) that it's kind of this idea that we must hate our mother and father, and even our own lives, in order to follow Christ. It doesn't mean we literally despise ourselves or our family members, but rather that our love for them is completely subordinate to our love for God. If it becomes a choice between choosing what I want and choosing what God wants, if I truly "despise myself for the sake of Jesus," I will choose what he wants.

WanderAimlessly · #4 Aug 27, '05, 5:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by WanderAimlessly

The part I cannot understand about Kempis’ opening paragraph is “who despises himself for the sake of Jesus“. How can one despise himself and love God.

This Sunday’s Gospel reading may be the solution to my dilemma about the passage. In that passage Jesus says:

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 16: 24-25 NAB).

Although I believe Imitation of Christ was written in Latin (At least the text I am using was translated from Latin) , Kempis’ first language is German. Verzichten is a word for deny and verachten is a word for despise. Irt Kempis was really referring to this passage, the first paragraph in this chapter makes a whole lot of sense. To love Jesus is to forsake ourselves for him.

PF

antiaphrodite · #5 Sep 3, '05, 3:27 am

For the man who does not seek Jesus does himself much greater harm than the whole world and all his enemies could ever do.

sobering thought.

wisdom 3:5 · #6 Sep 11, '05, 9:31 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by antiaphrodite

For the man who does not seek Jesus does himself much greater harm than the whole world and all his enemies could ever do.

sobering thought.

To go with that:

Likewise, if you seek yourself, you will find yourself—to your own ruin.

Our focus these days is so much on ourselves. Anyone remember the phrase used so much when I was a kid? Something about finding oneself. . . I wonder how many people "found themselves" to their own ruin.

I know that I am a better person when I don't think about myself. I slip into it all the time and unfourtunately, don't recognize it fast enough.

antiaphrodite · #7 Sep 17, '05, 11:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by wisdom 3:5

To go with that:

Likewise, if you seek yourself, you will find yourself—to your own ruin.

scary!

Fitz · #8 Sep 20, '05, 6:22 pm

"Love Him, then; keep Him as a friend. He will not leave you as others do, or let you suffer lasting death."

If we put our faith in anyone but our Saviour, then we do ourselves harm It is simple, and yet very complicated. We so often turn to our friends and family when we should turn to God.