Where Am I? On Finding Jesus

Book 2, CHAPTER VII:

Of The Love of Jesus above All Things

Comment:  Thomas a'Kempis lays out this simple concept - if you seek to "find yourself" you are more hurtful to yourself than if the whole world and all your adversaries lined up against you.  Rather, he tells us, if you put an intional effort into seeking the love of Jesus, you won't need to look any further,

Until next time, be imitators of Christ!

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"Blessed is the disciple who understands what it is to love Jesus, and to disregard all self concern 

for1 Tim 6:10)  Jesus' sake. The disciple must give up all treasured things for The Beloved, for Jesus will be loved alone above all things. The love of created things is deceiving and unstable, but the love of Jesus is faithful and lasting.

Whoever cleaves to created things will fall with their slipperiness; but the disciple who embraces Jesus will stand upright forever.  Love Jesus and hold Him for your friend, for He will not forsake you when all depart from you, nor will Jesus suffer you to perish at the last (Heb 13:5). You must one day be separated from all, whether you will it or not.

2. In life and in death, keep yourself near to Jesus and commit yourself unto His fidelity, Who, when all others fail you, is alone able to help you. Your Beloved is such, by nature, that He will not permit a rival, but He alone will possess your heart, and as a King will sit upon His own throne.

If you would learn to empty your heart of every created thing, Jesus would freely take up His abode with you. You will find all trust placed in mankind corrupted: But not so with our Lord Jesus. Do not trust not nor lean upon a reed shaken with the wind, because “all flesh is grass, and their glory falls like the flower of the field (Is 40:6).

3. If you look only upon the outward appearance of men, you will be quickly deceived, for if you seek your comfort and profit in others, you shall too often experience loss. If you seek Jesus in all things you shall truly find Jesus, but if you seek yourself you shall also find yourself, but to your own detriment. For if you do not seek Jesus you are more hurtful to yourself than all the world and all your adversaries."