The Voice of Christ
MY CHILD, I will teach you now the way of peace and true liberty.
- Seek, child, to do the will of others rather than your own.
- Always choose to have less rather than more.
- Look always for the last place and seek to be beneath all others.
- Always wish and pray that the will of God be fully carried out in you.
Behold, such will enter into the realm of peace and rest. (Quoted from Thomas Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, 1380)
What beautiful truths divinely revealed Thomas Kempis in The Imitation of Christ!
(John 14:27) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
If we few truly sought after these truths the peace Christ left us would illuminate from us. The fruit of the Spirit would be evident in our lives. Overflowing joy would fill our outlook. Patience and long suffering would be inherent to our character.
Many times we think our way is the best, without trying to serve someone else.
Many times we think life is about what and how much we can get out of it, rather than how much we put into it. The true investment in life is worshipping God, chasing after Jesus, and serving others. The desire for acquisition of wealth and personal fame has no place in His kingdom. God’s Word through James clearly teaches us about our unrest and shows us the way to His peace:
(James 4:1-10) “1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
Many times we put our agendas in front of others, believing it is what is best for us.
Life always appears to be a continuous struggle for us to get ahead. But– ahead of what? At who’s expense? If we are in a constant struggle, how can we possess Christ’s peace? If we are truly praying for God’s will to direct our lives then we must live lives with integrity, in truth, in obedience and fear of God.
There are many definitions of worship floating around in the Christian religious world. But, only one word is synonymous — “obedience.” Jesus said many times, “if you love me, you will obey my commands.”
It is in the stillness, God reveals Himself. If we do not know peace, we can not fully know Him. Thomas Kempis was blessed with this knowledge and strived to live a life of peace because he truly wanted to know God. Remember his Four Things Which Bring Great Peace:
- Seek to do the will of others rather than your own.
- Always choose to have less rather than more.
- Look always for the last place and seek to be beneath all others.
- Always wish and pray that the will of God be fully carried out in you.
