The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in Dangers
To achieve true freedom and wisdom, one must strive to be inwardly free, seek divine guidance, and put temporal things to proper service.
Thomas a Kempis emphasizes the importance of striving for inward freedom and mastery over oneself, directing all actions to be in alignment with God's will. He encourages seeking divine guidance in all matters, similar to how Moses sought advice from the Lord in the tabernacle. By turning to the secret chamber of the heart in earnest prayer, one can receive divine aid and avoid being deceived by false appearances and empty words.
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THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, you must strive diligently to be inwardly free, to have mastery over yourself everywhere, in every external act and occupation, that all things be subject to you and not you to them, that you be the master and director of your actions, not a slave or a mere hired servant. You should be rather a free man and a true Hebrew, arising to the status and freedom of the children of God who stand above present things to contemplate those which are eternal; who look upon passing affairs with the left eye and upon those of heaven with the right; whom temporal things do not so attract that they cling to them, but who rather put these things to such proper service as is ordained and instituted by God, the great Workmaster, Who leaves nothing unordered in His creation.
If, likewise, in every happening you are not content simply with outward appearances, if you do not regard with carnal eyes things which you see and hear, but whatever be the affair, enter with Moses into the tabernacle to ask advice of the Lord, you will sometimes hear the divine answer and return instructed in many things present and to come. For Moses always had recourse to the tabernacle for the solution of doubts and questions, and fled to prayer for support in dangers and the evil deeds of men. So you also should take refuge in the secret chamber of your heart, begging earnestly for divine aid.
For this reason, as we read, Joshua and the children of Israel were deceived by the Gibeonites because they did not first seek counsel of the Lord, but trusted too much in fair words and hence were deceived by false piety.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Inner Freedom
- Looking Beyond Temporal Affairs
- Seeking Divine Guidance
- Not relying on outward appearances
- Seeking advice from the Lord
- Taking refuge in prayer in times of danger
Key Quotes
“You should be rather a free man and a true Hebrew, arising to the status and freedom of the children of God who stand above present things to contemplate those which are eternal;” — Thomas a Kempis
“For Moses always had recourse to the tabernacle for the solution of doubts and questions, and fled to prayer for support in dangers and the evil deeds of men.” — Thomas a Kempis
“You will sometimes hear the divine answer and return instructed in many things present and to come.” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- Strive to be inwardly free and have mastery over yourself in every external act and occupation.
- Seek divine guidance through prayer and contemplation of eternal things.
- Do not rely on outward appearances, but look beyond temporal affairs to put them to proper service.