The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ
To conquer our own flesh and follow God's will, we must learn to submit to authority and overcome our pride through humility.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the importance of obedience, humility, and submission to authority as a means to conquer the inner struggles of the flesh and pride. He emphasizes the need to have a true contempt for oneself in order to be victorious over personal weaknesses and to align with the spirit. By reflecting on Christ's humility and submission to mankind, believers are encouraged to embrace obedience and humility, allowing no room for pride but instead to be zealous in self-discipline and humility.
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THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, he who attempts to escape obeying withdraws himself from grace. Likewise he who seeks private benefits for himself loses those which are common to all. He who does not submit himself freely and willingly to his superior, shows that his flesh is not yet perfectly obedient but that it often rebels and murmurs against him.
Learn quickly, then, to submit yourself to your superior if you wish to conquer your own flesh. For the exterior enemy is more quickly overcome if the inner man is not laid waste. There is no more troublesome, no worse enemy of the soul than you yourself, if you are not in harmony with the spirit. It is absolutely necessary that you conceive a true contempt for yourself if you wish to be victorious over flesh and blood.
Because you still love yourself too inordinately, you are afraid to resign yourself wholly to the will of others. Is it such a great matter if you, who are but dust and nothingness, subject yourself to man for the sake of God, when I, the All-Powerful, the Most High, Who created all things out of nothing, humbly subjected Myself to man for your sake? I became the most humble and the lowest of all men that you might overcome your pride with My humility.
Learn to obey, you who are but dust! Learn to humble yourself, you who are but earth and clay, and bow down under the foot of every man! Learn to break your own will, to submit to all subjection! Be zealous against yourself! Allow no pride to dwell in you, but prove yourself so humble and lowly that all may walk over you and trample upon you as dust in the streets!
What have you, vain man, to complain of? What answer can you make, vile sinner, to those who accuse you, you who have so often offended God and so many times deserved hell? But My eye has spared you because your soul was precious in My sight, so that you might know My love and always be thankful for My benefits, so that you might give yourself continually to true subjection and humility, and might patiently endure contempt.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Necessity of Obedience
- A. Submitting to authority is essential for spiritual growth
- B. Refusing to obey leads to a withdrawal from God's grace
- II. The Dangers of Pride
- A. Excessive self-love hinders true obedience
- B. Pride must be overcome through humility
- III. The Example of Christ
- A. Jesus humbled Himself for our sake
- B. We must follow His example and submit to others
- IV. The Call to Humility
- A. We must learn to break our own will and submit to others
- B. True humility is essential for spiritual victory
Key Quotes
“Learn quickly, then, to submit yourself to your superior if you wish to conquer your own flesh.” — Thomas a Kempis
“Is it such a great matter if you, who are but dust and nothingness, subject yourself to man for the sake of God, when I, the All-Powerful, the Most High, Who created all things out of nothing, humbly subjected Myself to man for your sake?” — Thomas a Kempis
“Be zealous against yourself! Allow no pride to dwell in you, but prove yourself so humble and lowly that all may walk over you and trample upon you as dust in the streets!” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- We must submit to authority and break our own will to follow God's will.
- True humility is essential for spiritual victory and allows us to give ourselves continually to true subjection and humility.
- We must learn to be zealous against ourselves and allow no pride to dwell in us.