IMITATION OF CHRIST

THE SECOND BOOK
ADMONITIONS CONCERNING THE INNER LIFE

by Thomas A Kempis, 1380-1471
Originally A Project Gutenberg Etext
Originally Translated by Rev. William Benham
Put Into Modern English, Edited, And In Places Paraphrased by DSB



ADDENDUM FROM DSB
Rev. William Benham is the original translator of this work. I (DSB) prefer this translation because I find it more profound and deeply spiritual than the others available to me. My effort has been to remain true to the message while putting it into modern English, paraphrasing here and there, and giving it practical application for all Christians everywhere.


All scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)


CONTENTS
 
CHAPTERS OF THE SECOND BOOK – Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life
         1.      On the inward life
         2.      On lowly submission
         3.      On the value of being good and peaceable
         4.      On a pure mind and godly intention
         5.      On an accurate view of self
         6.      On the joy of a good conscience
         7.      On loving Jesus above all else
         8.      On communing with Jesus
         9.      On the absence of comfort and encouragement
         10.    On gratitude for the Grace of God
         11.    On the small number of Christians who love the Cross of Jesus
         12.    On the wisdom of taking the way of the Cross

 

CHAPTER 1
On the inward life

The kingdom of God is within you, said the Lord (Luke 17:21). Turn to the Lord with all your heart and turn away from this contemptible world. Forsake and reject whatever unholy attractions this world holds for you – and you will find rest for your soul.

Learn what it means to despise outward and earthly things. Learn why despising them is so important to godliness. Learn what you must do to despise them. Then pursue this path until you despise outward things and are devoted to the inward, spiritual things. If you do this, you will see the reality of God’s kingdom welling up within you. For the kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), and hence it is not given to the ungodly (Psalm 24:3-5).

Jesus Christ will come to you, make His home in you, lavish His love on love, and give you help and comfort if you prepare a worthy home for Him within you (John 14:21,23; Ephesians 3:14-19; Philippians 4:13). And though creation manifests the glory and beauty of Christ, we see His glory and beauty more clearly and fully when we engage Him inwardly. Indeed, He chooses to dwell within us: making His presence known to our inward being, communing Spirit to spirit, soothingly comforting us, giving us much inward peace, and engaging us in exceedingly wonderful fellowship.

Therefore, faithful follower of Jesus, prepare your heart for this bridegroom that He may descend to your level and graciously grant you the favor of coming in and making His home within you, for He is the one who said: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him” (John 14:23). But be careful to protect that inward place for Christ alone – refusing to allow all others or anything other than Christ to enter in.

When you have Christ within, you are rich and have all you need. He is your gracious provider and faithful protector in all circumstances and for all time. He is your loving companion and all-wise guide. He is your strength and hope for victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. Therefore, not only is there no need to trust in people, it is foolish to do so, for they change and in time pass away. But Christ lives forever, changes never, and faithfully walks with us to the end.

There is no wisdom in putting great trust in a frail, mortal human being even though he is benevolent, kind, and dear to you. In the same way, there is no wisdom in feeling especially sad or distressed or abandoned should he, from time to time, oppose and disagree with you. The reality is, those who are on your side today may be against you tomorrow, for mankind is fickle and therefore easily turned by circumstances or feelings at any moment. There is, however, great wisdom in putting your whole trust in God – choosing to submit to Him and to love Him while making Him your source for love and security. He will care for you Himself, and He will always do what is best for you (Psalm 37:3-6; 118:8-9; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; I Peter 5:7; Romans 8:28).

There is nothing on this earth or of this life that is permanent. We have no permanent home here (Hebrews 13:14), and regardless of where we live or how long we live here, we remain strangers and pilgrims. In this life, we can only experience true rest of a heavenly nature when we are abiding in Christ and He is abiding in us.

Since this world is not your home, why do you look around to see if there is something here that will make you secure or give you a sense of well-being? Heaven is your home, and you ought to think of it as you home. Those who see heaven as their home see all earthly things as temporary. In fact all things earthly pass away, and you will pass away just as certainly as they. Therefore, be careful not to cling to them so that you are not taken away with them, to perish along with them (I John 2:15-17).

Set your mind on all that is Above. Give continued attention to godly and heavenly things, pondering them and meditating on them (Colossians 3:1-3). Continuously direct your worship and prayers through Christ to the Father (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).

If you cannot keep your mind fixed on high and heavenly things, fix it on the sufferings of Christ – mentally picturing the wounds He bore for our redemption. For if you can at least fix your thoughts on the sufferings of Christ – visualizing the life-giving wounds of the whip, the fists, the reed, the thorns, the nails, and the spear – then you will find great encouragement to continue confidently entrusting yourself to God during your trials and tribulations. Truly, as you entrust yourself to God, you will find in Him the comfort necessary to patiently endure your sufferings. And beyond that, you will find His example, His grace, and His assistance sufficient to enable you to meekly and humbly endure the inconsiderations, disrespect, rudeness, snubs, neglect, and contempt of others, as well as the unkind or abusive words that we often experience (I Peter 2:20-24).

As you know, Christ also, when He was in the world, was despised and rejected of men (Isaiah 53:3). In his time of greatest need, He was abandoned by His closest friends – left to bear the reproaches of jealous, angry, and vindictive sinners, alone (John 16:32). Since Christ was willing to suffer and be despised for our sake, how dare we complain when going through trials and tribulation, or times of unjust suffering?

Christ had adversaries, and those who loudly and persistently proclaimed He wasn’t who He said He was (Matthew 12:24). Do you really want to be so unlike Christ as to have all men be your friends and speak well of you? How will you gain the grace and character of patience if you are never trained and tested by adversity? How can you be the friend of Christ – indeed, how can you be conformed to the likeness of Christ if you are unwilling to suffer adversity, or if, when suffering, you complain and have no joy in the Lord (Philippians 3:7-11; James 1:2-4)?

Look to Christ, nourish yourself with the words and example of Christ, long to be more like Christ, and willingly do what God requires of you to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. And do all of this for the sake, glory, and honor of Christ, if you desire to reign with Christ.

If just once you enter into the mind of Jesus – so as to think as He thinks, and taste even a little of His tender love, then you will not care much, if at all, about your own convenience or inconvenience. Rather, you will rejoice in the spiritual profit gained from times of trouble. Why? When we love Jesus, we no longer want to live for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf (II Corinthians 5:14-15). When we understand the quality of Christ’s love and character, and when we long to be like Him, we will despise what we have been – and even continue to be – while cherishing what God is doing to make us more and more like Jesus (Romans 8:28; II Corinthians 3:4-6).

The one who loves Jesus, diligently pursues being inwardly faithful to Him and free of unholy affections. He quickly turns to God and the scriptures in times of trouble or temptation. He makes it his constant aim to resist the desires of his flesh, to walk by the Spirit, and to enjoy the deeply satisfying peace of God.

The one who grasps reality as it is, and not as it is said to be or seems to be, is truly wise and shows that he is taught of God more than of men. He knows how to walk the narrow path because he trusts in and obeys the will and word of God, both in his heart and in his outward behavior. He places little value on earthly, temporal things. He communes with God and meditates on God’s word without regard to time of day, season of year (i.e., Advent, Lent), or location. When his thoughts wander or his flesh cries out for unholy pleasures or he fears what ought not to be feared or he commits known sin, he is able to quickly call himself back to the way of God because he is never entirely given over to the world or the things in the world. Neither his employment nor any of those activities that must be done to maintain his life (i.e., paying bills, washing clothes, cooking, home repair) stand in the way or distract him from loving, obeying, and serving God. Rather, whatever he sets his hand to do or whatever demands his attention, he does as unto the Lord and for the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 2:14-16; Colossians 3:23-24). Because his beliefs, values, thoughts, and desires are of a godly nature, he wants no part of – either actively or passively – the abnormal, unconventional, and perverse behavior of others.

We will be hindered and distracted from pursuing a pure heart, a transformed mind, and a godly life to the same measure that we treasure and desire selfish things, fleshly things, earthly things, and temporal things.

If you were perfected in your love of God and purified from evil – so as to live according to His will – all things would work together for your good and spiritual profit (Romans 8:28). However, since you are still sometimes fleshly, selfish, prideful, and rebellious against God – rather than being perfectly dead to yourself and separated from all earthly attractions – you are often discontent with your circumstances and the people around you. In your discontent – which comes from distrust of God – you pursue earthly, flesh pleasing, and mind numbing remedies. Such pursuits produce consequences that bring more trouble into your life – thus working against the good that comes when we love God and live according to His will (I Timothy 6:6-8; Galatians 6:7-8).

There is nothing that defiles and entangles the heart of man as much as the impure or inordinate love of created things. If you turn away from outward comfort, possessions, pleasures, and riches, you will be in a much better condition to contemplate heavenly things and experience the true inward joy of the Lord, regardless of your circumstances.


CHAPTER 2
On lowly submission

It is wise and spiritually profitable to pay little attention to who is for you and who is against you. Rather, pay attention to the task at hand and live your life such that God is with you whatever you do. Keep a good conscience before God, and God will defend and protect you – for those whom God helps cannot be hurt by whatever evil others may desire to do to them (Psalm 27:1).

If you will refuse to complain and patiently endure whatever suffering befalls you, then you will see the salvation of the Lord and experience His help (Psalm 37:7-11, 39-40, Philippians 4:6-7; I Peter 2:20-23). The Lord knows the time and the way to deliver you. Therefore put yourself in His hands and wait for Him to do what He, in His great love and wisdom, chooses to do. Truly, God has made it His responsibility to help us and deliver us from all distress – so keep yourself in His hands.

More often than not, it is spiritually profitable to have our faults known, criticized, and even reprimanded by others, for it produces greater humility in us. When we humble ourselves in relation to our faults and failures, it is much easier to restore a damaged relationship with those we have offended and to calm those who are angry over something we have done.

In addition, God protects and delivers the humble. He loves and comforts those who are humble. He listens to the prayers of the humble. He pours out His grace on the humble. When the humble are degraded, slandered and belittled, He exalts them. God reveals His truths to the humble. He lovingly and gently draws and invites the humble to Himself.

When a humble man is verbally attacked, wrongly criticized, and degraded, he does not lose the peace of God within, because he has placed himself in God’s hands and is looking for the approval of God rather than the approval of man. Therefore, do not think you have made serious progress in the Christ-like life until you see yourself as inferior to all others (II Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 10:17, 25:9; Proverbs 29:23; Isaiah 66:2; Matthew 23:12; James 4:6,10; I Peter 5:5-6).


CHAPTER 3
On the value of being good and peaceable

First learn to possess inward peace and to live in peace with those around you, then you will be able to be a teacher of peace to the anxious or fearful, and a peacemaker among those in conflict. The peaceable do more good than those who are highly educated.

Those who are ruled by their passions turn even good into evil and easily believe the worst, because they treat their own assumptions or other’s gossip as sufficient proof of what is or isn’t true. However, those who are good and at peace within and without, bring about good – even in those situations or relationships where it seems there is little hope for good.

He who dwells in peace does not assume the worst about anyone, but he who is discontented (disgruntled, dissatisfied, unhappy) and distrustful of others is suspicious of almost everyone. Such a person never finds inner peace and contentment, and he stirs the distrust and suspicions of others so that they cannot come to that place where they have inner peace and contentment. He often says what is best left unsaid, and neglects doing those things that promote and protect the good of others. He is quick to point out what others are required to do or have given their word to do, while neglecting what he is responsible for or has promised to do. Therefore, first give careful attention to your own way of life – nurturing the good and correcting the wrong. After doing this, then give attention to the way your neighbor is living (Matthew 7:1-5).

When you fail, often the first words out of your mouth are excuses, justifications, or distortions of reality in regard to what you have done. Yet you will not accept the excuses or justifications of others. Forsake this ungodly double standard, for it is more righteous and humble to accuse yourself and excuse your brother.

If you want others to bear with your faults, bear with theirs (Galatians 6:1-5). Judging others more harshly than yourself and being intolerant of their wrongs, while wanting tolerance for yours, shows how far you are from godly love and Christ-like humility. Indeed, godly love and Christ-like humility are incapable of being sinfully angry or self-righteously indignant toward anyone except yourself.

There is nothing difficult or even commendable about spending time with the kindly and the meek, for we naturally find joy and comfort with such as these. Indeed, our nature predisposes us to preferring peaceful relationships. We, by nature, enjoy being with those who think about things as we think about them, and who see things as we see them. But to live peaceably with the difficult and stubborn, or with the undisciplined and rambunctious, or with those who are antagonistic, or with those who oppose us, this requires meekness, patience, and grace, and it is highly commendable and worthy of a Christian.

Some are able to maintain inner peace and live in peace with others. Some have no inner peace and therefore stir up others to the point of causing them to lose what peace they have. In this way they are troublesome to others, but even more troublesome to themselves. Some persevere in maintaining inner peace, and learn how to bring others into this kind of godly peace. However, all true, lasting peace in this sin-sick world is gained and maintained through trusting God to be our provider and protector, through meekness in suffering, and through patient endurance, rather than through avoiding or distancing ourselves from adverse circumstances and contrary people.

The one who knows how to suffer like Christ – with faith in God, with the meekness of Christ, and with humble patience – will possess the inner peace of Christ (I Peter 2:20-23; John 14:27, 16:33). Such a person, by the grace, wisdom, and empowerment of God, is conqueror of himself, the master of his world, the friend of Christ, and the inheritor of heaven.


CHAPTER 4
On a pure mind and godly intention

We are lifted above earthly things by two wings: simplicity and purity. [Simplicity is single mindedness, and as used here reveals itself in freedom from luxury, pretentiousness, and cunning.] Simplicity ought to rule our intentions, while purity ought to rule our thoughts, feelings, and desires (affections). Simplicity frees us from those earthly affections that impede or compete with our pursuit of God (Hebrews 12:1-2). Purity makes it possible to know God personally and to enter into deeply intimate fellowship with Him (Psalm 24:3-4; Matthew 5:8).

If you are free from inordinate affections, nothing you ought to do, or the scriptures tell you to do, or the Holy Spirit prompts you to do will be distasteful, inconvenient, or unacceptable to you. If you set your mind on and make it your aim to pursue nothing but the will of God and the good of others, you will be inwardly free from those things that hinder intimate fellowship with God and steal the joy of His presence.

If our heart is right with God, that is, if we are living in simplicity and purity, then every creature will show us the way of God and teach us the truths of God. There is no creature so small and vile that it cannot show us the goodness and greatness of God (Romans 1:20).

If we were virtuous and pure within, we could look at anything outside ourselves without being drawn toward that which harms our soul, because we would understand it’s source (God or the devil) and it’s intent (to work a work of God or a work of the devil). A pure heart is able to see the gloriously good intentions of God and the deceitfully evil intentions of the devil. What is the point of this? We judge what is outside of us according to what we are inside. Therefore, you can tell what you are inside by how well you judge what is outside.

If there is true joy in this world, surely it is possessed by those with a pure heart. If there is tribulation and anguish in the world, those with an evil conscience bring it upon themselves.

When iron is heated in the fire until it glows white, all the rust on its surface is removed. In this same way, when we entirely submit to God, we are freed from spiritual laziness and eager to do what God requires of us so that we can be changed into a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17; II Peter 1:2-11).

When we begin to grow lukewarm in our spiritual life, we grow lazy in relation to doing those things that are necessary to live a godly life, and we willingly turn to earthly comforts and self-soothing pleasures. But when we take seriously Christ’s exhortation to deny self and daily take up our cross, then we count as nothing those things that previously seemed too hard and painful to us.


CHAPTER 5
On an accurate view of self

To place confidence in your self instead of God is foolish and prideful. The wise and humble place confidence in God instead of themselves because they realize they are neither as godly nor as knowledgeable about God as they, in their pride, thought they were.

Those who know the most about God, His ways, and His Word, know very little by comparison to what there is to know. And often, what little light of the knowledge of God there is within us, we forget or neglect through carelessness. The sad reality is, too many of us are unaware of just how biblically and spiritually blind we are – which too often results in thinking of ourselves and trusting in ourselves more than we ought (Jeremiah 17:5-8).

The proof of our condition is when we do what is wrong, and then add wrong on top of it by making excuses or refusing to admit the wrong we have done. For example, sometimes we are motivated by ungodly passion, but we call it zeal. Sometimes we are critical of small faults in others, yet ignore greater faults in ourselves. We are quick to point out the effect the bad behavior of others has on us, yet we give very little consideration to the frustrating or hurtful effect our behavior has on others.

If we would judge ourselves by God’s standards, or at least by the same standards to which we judge others, we would judge ourselves more quickly and more severely. Indeed, those who love God, who treasure the honor of God, and who hunger and thirst after righteousness, put concern for their own spiritual growth ahead of any concern they have for the correction and improvement of others. Christians such as these find it easy to show compassion and mercy, and to remain silent about the failures and faults of others when it is appropriate to do so.

Dealing with the faults and failures of others in a godly manner (in your thoughts, attitudes, actions) requires humility and compassion, refusal to keep an account of the wrong done when overlooking the fault, and taking full responsibility to acknowledge and correct yourself when you fail.

When you set your mind on the things above, when your focus is on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, when you seriously pursue being conformed to the likeness of Christ, the sins and faults of others will make you sad. They may even break your heart and make you weep. But they will never drive you to sinful anger, resentment, bitterness, slander, verbal abuse, vengeance, or any other ungodly response (Colossians 3:2; II Peter 3:18; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 3:28, 4:26; Romans 12:9-21).

Ponder the following questions. When observing the faults and failures of others, what do you think about and how do you behave when your mind is set on things other than God and growing in godliness? Whose interests are you seeking when you are more concerned about the behavior of others than your own? Who profits when you take care of everything and everyone else to the neglect of your own purity of heart and godliness of life?

If you want true inner peace and if you want to maintain singleness of purpose, you must put aside all lesser things and devote yourself to becoming – in this life – all that God saved you to be, teaches you to be, and empowers you to be. Truly, the more you free yourself from earthly, temporal cares and fleshly pleasures, the greater your progress in becoming Christ-like. The more you value worldly things and fleshly pleasures, the less interest and resolve you will have for a focused and persistent pursuit of God and godliness.

Let nothing be great, nothing highly valued, nothing pleasing, nothing acceptable, except God Himself, and the things of God. Consider all earthly comforts and enjoyments to be worthless in comparison to the comfort and joy that comes from God and from living a life pleasing to Him.

The one who loves God no longer longs to be comforted or filled with joy by anything beneath God. Truly, God alone is eternal and incomprehensible – filling all things. Therefore He is the comfort of the soul and the true joy of the heart.


CHAPTER 6
On the joy of a good conscience

The glory of a godly person is the testimony of a good conscience. If you keep a good conscience, you will have an abundance of joy from knowing you are pleasing to God (I John 3:18-21). Those who have a good conscience before God are able to bear a great amount of humiliation, accusations, insults, condemnation, rejection, hatred, and even persecution for Christ’s sake, for such adversities do not disturb the inner peace and joy that comes from knowing you are living a life pleasing to God. On the other hand, those with an evil conscience are suspicious, fearful, proud, defensive when accused, angry over insults, vindictive, frequently in conflict with others, constantly discontent – or more simply stated, never at peace within and without. Therefore, if you are to know sweet peace and abundant joy in the Lord, keep a good conscience before God so that your heart cannot rebuke or condemn you.

Do not rejoice unless you have done what is right and good in God’s sight (I Corinthians 13:6; James 4:4-10). Though the unrighteous – those who practice sin – have times of happiness and inward calm, they never experience true joy or continual inward peace. Indeed, God himself says: “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21).

Therefore, if the unrighteous should say: “We have peace within and without, no evil will come upon us and no one dares to harm us,” do not believe them (Jeremiah 23:17). Why? Because the wrath of God will suddenly rise up against them. Their good deeds will not save them, and whatever right thoughts and beliefs they had of God will perish with them.

To glory and rejoice in trials, tribulations, sufferings, and any other adversities seems natural to the one who trusts God enough to place his life in God’s hands. What is more, those who love God count it a privilege to share in the sufferings and cross of Christ (Acts 5:41; Galatians 6:14; I Peter 2:20-23).

Whatever praise and acclaim is given or received among men is short-lived. Therefore, there is no seeking and receiving the praises of men without the sadness of losing it.

The godly neither seek nor rely on the praises and acclaim of others. If they seek praise at all, they seek it from God alone for having kept a good conscience and for living a life that is pleasing to Him. Therefore, the joy of the godly comes from being in God and from living according to the truth of God. Or to say it a little differently, the joy of the godly comes from submitting to the will of God so as to live a life that is pleasing to God. And it comes from pursuing a purity of heart that enables them to see God, from sharing in the sufferings of Christ, from persevering to the end, and from intimate fellowship with God.

Those who desire true and lasting approval and glory care little for that which is worldly and temporal. Those who seek worldly approval and temporal glory – and especially those who inwardly long for earthly approval and glory – prove that they have very little love for God, or for the things of God, or for eternity with God.

Those who keep a good conscience toward God, whose inward being is filled with the peace of God, who seek to please God above all others, are neither elated by people’s praises nor disturbed by their reproaches. Indeed, those whose conscience is pure are contented and filled with peace regardless of what others think of them or say about them.

You are none the holier if you receive praise from men, nor the viler if you are reproached by men. You are what you are – and neither the praises nor the reproaches of others can change what you are in God’s sight. If you have made it your aim to actively pursue inward holiness, that is, holiness in all your desires, cravings, attitudes, thoughts, and feelings, you will not be puffed up by praises or defensive and angry at criticism. Remember, man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart (I Samuel 16:7). Man looks at the behavior, God considers the intent.

It is the mark of humility to always do your best without thinking of yourself as better than others.

It is the sign of great purity of heart and great faith in God to no longer seek, or even desire, comfort and solace from anyone or anything of this world.

Those who no longer seek outward affirmation to assure themselves and the watching world of their goodness or importance are the ones who have committed themselves wholly to serving God, to finding their security in God, and to receiving from God, and God alone, whatever praise may be given. The apostle Paul affirms this truth when he says: “For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends” (II Corinthians 10:18).

Therefore, those who are genuinely spiritual walk with God inwardly first, and outwardly second. They look to Him for whatever approval or praise is to come to them. Because of this, they are free of all affection or desire for whatever approval, affirmation, praise, respect, or honor may come from anyone in this world.


CHAPTER 7
On loving Jesus above all else

Blessed are those who understand what it means to love Jesus, and to despise and die to themselves for Jesus’ sake. They know that all earthly loves and attractions must either be forsaken or kept subservient to their love for Him, for we do not love Jesus until we love Him alone above all else (Mark 12:30; I John 2:15; James 4:4; Matthew 6:24).

Those who love people and things more than Jesus often deceive themselves into believing their earthly love and happiness is secure. They deceive themselves by telling themselves the object of their love is constant, dependable, faithful, and true. However, Jesus is the only object of love who is constant, dependable, faithful, and true. If we cling to created things for love, security, and happiness, we will lose what we seek as soon as they fail us. If we cling to Jesus, loving Him above all else, looking first and foremost to Him for love, security, and true joy, we will have what we seek forever.

Therefore, love Jesus and cling to Him as your friend, for He will never leave you or forsake you even though your entire family and all your friends abandon you. Nor will He allow you to suffer eternal damnation (Romans 8:35-39). And though earthly relationships, possessions, and pleasures are yours throughout your lifetime, there will still come a day when you will be separated from all earthy relationships, treasures, possessions, wealth, and pleasures, whether you want to be or not (Luke 12:16-21; 16:19-31). So again let it be said, cling to Jesus in life and in death. Put yourself into His faithful, loving, and caring hands, for when all others fail you, He alone remains ready and able to help you.

However, our Beloved Jesus is such, by nature, that He wants no rival to your love or to His place of lordship over your life. He wants your heart for Himself alone. He wants to be the only king sitting on His throne in your life (James 4:4-5). Therefore, learn to put away everything that competes with your love for Jesus and tempts you away from submitting to Him. Then Jesus will eagerly move in and live in you (John 14:21, 23).

As time goes on, you will find that all the trust you place in people rather than in Jesus, is only slightly better than wasted faith (Isaiah 31:1; 36:9; Psalm 20:7). Therefore, do not trust or lean on a reed shaking in the wind – because all flesh is like grass in a hot and dry land, and whatever good is in mankind often withers and disappears like the flowers of the field under the scorching sun (I Peter 1:24; Isaiah 40:6-8). And beware, if you look only on people’s outward appearance – especially that part of them they want you to see – you will be easily deceived into thinking they are better than they are.

If you seek comfort, security, happiness, and an assuring sense of well-being in others, you will often experience disappointment, frustration, and loss. If you seek to please and exalt Jesus in all things, you will enter into an ever deepening and increasingly meaningful love relationship with Him – which is great gain – for this is where contentment and inner peace is found, this is where joy in all circumstances is found, this is where comfort and encouragement is found, and this is where true security is found.

If you seek to please and exalt yourself, you will nurture selfishness – to the ruin of your hunger for the things of God and the loss of motivation to persevere in the pursuit of godliness. Truly, when we do not seek Jesus above all else, we are more harmful to ourselves than the world and all our enemies will ever be.


CHAPTER 8
On communing with Jesus

When Jesus is present and we are basking in and enjoying His presence, all is well and nothing seems hard. But when Jesus is not dwelling within us, or when we push Him aside to go our own way and exercise our own will, or even when it seems He is absent, everything is hard. When Jesus speaks but a single word to the ears of our heart, the comfort we gain from that word is exceedingly great. But if we are not intimately and fervently conversing with Jesus, or if we are not walking hand-in-hand with Him, then whatever other comfort we may receive – be it from other Christians or from the world – is of little help. We read that Mary Magdalene quickly got up from the place where she was weeping when Martha said to her: “The Teacher is here and is calling for you” (John 11:28-29). And why did her demeanor change so quickly? Because sadness quickly turns to joy and broken-heartedness is greatly comforted when we commune with Jesus and listen to His voice in the midst of our difficulties and tears.

How empty, hopeless, bitter, and hardened you become without a life-altering faith in Jesus and a prayer life that leads to sharing intimate thoughts and feelings with the living presence of Jesus within.

How senseless and futile to desire anything in addition to Jesus – as if there was anything of this world that could do for you what Jesus and His presence within could not do. Therefore, to lose Jesus and to lose communing with Him is a greater loss than losing the whole world!

What can the world give you of lasting and satisfying value that does not include intimate fellowship and honest conversation with Jesus? Without the presence of Jesus, life is the lowest hell. When Jesus is without and within, life is the sweetest paradise. When Jesus is without and within, no enemy can steal our peace and joy, or do us any lasting harm.

Those who find communion and companionship with Jesus have found a precious treasure. Indeed, this treasure is immeasurably more valuable than any other treasure that can be found. Those who lose intimate fellowship and honest conversation with Jesus lose exceedingly more than if they had lost the whole world. The poorest among us are those who live without the presence of Jesus within. The richest among us are those who walk hand-in-hand with Jesus – sharing rich fellowship and conversation with Him.

To walk hand-in-hand with Jesus takes a serious and intentional effort on our part. To continue in intimate communion and companionship with Jesus takes great wisdom, zealous perseverance in the pursuit of holiness, and due vigilance against the wiles of the devil and desires of the flesh. For example, entering into fellowship with Jesus and continuing in sweet companionship with Him requires a diligent, scripture-based pursuit of a pure heart and godly life (Psalm 24:3-4; Matthew 5:8), meekness and humility (Matthew 11:29; James 4:6-7), inward peacefulness (Philippians 4:6-7), right thinking (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8), a good conscience (Titus 1:15), resisting the devil when tempted (James 4:7), and persistence in submitting to the will and word of God (John 14:23). When we do such things as these, the scripture affirms that Jesus will draw near to us and will abide in us (James 4:7-10; John 14:18-20,23; I Corinthians 3:16; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Leviticus 26:11-12; Ezekiel 37:26-27).

However, you can quickly bring a halt to this marvelous fellowship with Jesus and lose His favor by turning away from Him to satisfy some unholy desire of your flesh, or to go after some pleasure or possession of the world, or to willingly give in to the devil’s temptation. Naturally, in turning away from Him you put distance between the two of you. And when you do this, to whom will you turn when lonely or troubled, and who will you seek for a friend? Without a doubt, life is sweeter with a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and significantly harder without one. Therefore, if your dearest friend is not Jesus, you will experience sadness and emptiness which no one or nothing else can satisfy.

It is extremely foolish to put your trust in or seek joy from anyone or anything more than from Jesus. It is preferable to have the whole world against you than Jesus displeased or provoked with you. Therefore, love Jesus and please Him above all who are special to you. In fact, if you love everyone for Jesus’ sake and Jesus for His own sake, He will always be your first love.

Jesus Christ is worthy of being loved above all others – including our dearest family and friends – because He alone is perfectly good and faithful.

For Jesus’ sake and by His gracious assistance, treat both friends and enemies as dear to you, praying for them all that they may come to know and love Jesus.

Never desire to be praised or loved above others, because this belongs to God alone – who has no equal. Never long for anyone to set the affections of their heart on you in any way that equals or exceeds the love they are to have for God. Never give your love to anyone in any way that exceeds the love you are to have for God. Rather, make God your first and foremost love. And be careful not to behave in any way that would prevent Him from being the first and foremost love of anyone else.

To love God and others in this way requires a committed pursuit of purity within and freedom from any created entanglements. To experience sweet communion and intimate companionship with God, to discover just how delightful and precious fellowship with Him is, you must humbly bare yourself before Him and present Him with a pure heart. However, you cannot come to the place of considering all earthly loves or created things as nothing – so as to love God above all else and enter in to intimate fellowship with Him – unless He assists you by graciously preparing and drawing you.

Of course, it is God’s gracious assistance that enables us to do all things. On the other hand, it is the withdrawal of His assistance that leaves us in a poor, weak, and trouble-filled condition. Therefore, when it seems or feels like God has withdrawn His gracious assistance, do not despair. Instead, persevere in calmly resting on the will of God so that you persevere in bearing all the troubles that come upon you to the praise and glory of Jesus Christ: for after winter comes summer, and after night comes day, and after the storm comes a great calm.


CHAPTER 9
On the absence of Divine comfort and encouragement

The word ‘comfort’ as used in modern times conveys only half of the intended message of the author. The author is using the word “comfort’ according to its archaic or older meanings: (1) relief afforded by the communication of hope and strength; (2) to impart strength and hope; to encourage; to console; to cheer; (3) to lessen the sadness or sorrow of someone and to strengthen by inspiring with hope and restoring a cheerful outlook; (4) to support or encourage.

Therefore, I am putting two words side by side where the one word ‘comfort’ appears in the original text. These two words are ‘comfort and encouragement,’ which together convey the meaning intended.  (DSB)

It is easy to disregard, and even spurn, human comfort and encouragement when Divine comfort and encouragement is being poured out upon you. It is a mark of great spiritual maturity and unfaltering confidence in the goodness of God to be able to bear up under the absence of both human and divine comfort and encouragement. It is also a mark of the depth of your love for God to willingly and patiently bear those times when it feels as if you have been abandoned by God, when it seems His comfort and encouragement are absent. In such times, those who have denied self and taken up their cross, resist seeking comfort and encouragement from any source other than God. And they resist being puffed up for having faithfully and patiently waited for God to restore His comfort and encouragement.

There is nothing especially praiseworthy if we are cheerful of heart, eagerly submissive, and adoring toward God when blessed by a keen sense of His presence and an outpouring of His favor. What child of God doesn’t rejoice or doesn’t feel especially endeared to God in such circumstances? We all know that life seems more pleasant and our adoration of God more intense when it is obvious His presence is with us, and we are being carried along by His grace. So it is no surprise that our burdens seem as if they are no burden when we are keenly aware of God’s precious presence, gracious help, and wise guidance.

However, our humanity is such that when we feel needy or alone, we will accept almost anything that satisfies our longing for comfort and encouragement. The reality of this weakness is one of the primary reasons it is difficult to die to self and gain freedom from the unholy desires of our flesh. Yet this is what God calls us to and empowers us to do (Galatians 5:16-17, 24; Romans 6:3-7).

The godly martyr Laurence, in dying to self and despising everything in the world that seemed to satisfy his felt-needs, overcame the love of the world. And while dying to self and despising the world, he turned to God for security and learned to be satisfied with God’s love. This freed him from thinking he needed to be loved by his earthly teacher in order to have his longing for love satisfied. Yet he did not just die to self, despise the world, and turn to God for security. He nurtured a sincere love for Christ, and because of his love for Christ he calmly suffered the loss of God’s chief priest, Sixtus, whom he dearly loved.

Therefore, by nurturing and preserving an abiding love for God which transcended all other loves and desires, he overcame the powerful longing to be loved by others in place of God. Therefore, instead of choosing human love, comfort, and encouragement, he chose to please God by doing God’s will.

So learn from Laurence’s example. Do not hold any human love, comfort, and encouragement to be more precious or needful than God’s love, comfort, and encouragement. Do not love anyone, even your closest family member or dearest friend, more than God. And should you be deserted by a friend, never take it as horrible, awful, and terrible, for one day death will separate us all from one another.

As has been said, we must deliberately, fervently, consistently, and persistently wage war within ourselves – vigilantly doing battle against our flesh and earthly desires and ungodly passions – if we are to subdue all other rivals so that God becomes the only one we love with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And should we trust in our own strength of mind, will-power, and self-discipline instead of the gracious assistance, wisdom, and empowerment of God, we will easily slip back to seeking self-pleasing human comforts and encouragements when our need feels greater than our perception of God’s provision – because we will lack the means to do otherwise.

However, a true lover of Christ and a diligent pursuer of righteousness neither falls back into looking for human comforts and encouragement nor falls into seeking the sweet things of this world that pacify the flesh or dull the pains of life. Rather, such a Christian – driven by his love for Christ and confidence in the empowerment of God – counts it a valued opportunity to be tested and tried by difficult circumstances, and to put forth an effort equal to what is required to put off the deeds of the flesh and put on Christ-likeness (James 1:2-4; Ephesians 6:10-18; James 4:7-8).

Therefore, when spiritual comfort and encouragement is poured out on you by God, receive it as a gracious gift from God rather than something you have earned or deserve. And while you are enjoying His precious presence, comfort, and encouragement, do not give in to pride by thinking you are more pure of heart and godly of life than others. Do not rejoice excessively as if this were your permanent condition, or foolishly presume you have arrived at a high spiritual state. Rather, be all the more humble for having been graciously given such a precious gift, and all the more wary and vigilant in all your thoughts, words, and deeds, for this comforting time of communing with God will pass and temptation will come.

When God’s comfort and encouragement is taken from you, do not immediately get discouraged or lose heart, but humbly and patiently wait for God to make His presence known again. Without question, God is able and willing to restore in greater measure the comfort and encouragement that was lost. This great truth is neither new nor strange to those who have tasted and seen the ways of God. Truly, times of refreshingly sweet fellowship with Jesus, and times of feeling alone have been the common experience of godly, mature Christians, as well as the prophets of old.

For example, the Psalmist said when God’s favor was present with him: “I said in my prosperity, I will never be moved” (Psalm 30:6). Yet he also makes clear what he felt when that favor departed: “You hid Your face [from me], and I was dismayed” (Psalm 30:7).

In spite of feeling dismayed, he did not give way to discouragement or despair, but all the more earnestly prayed, saying: “To You, O Lord, I called, and to the Lord I made supplication” (Psalm 30:8). And again he said: “Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me; O Lord, be my helper” (Psalm 30:10). Then when he received the favor of God in response to his prayer, he testified that God had heard him by saying: “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness” (Psalm 30:11).

If this has been the experience of the great people of faith down through the ages, we – who are yet on the way to a faith and godliness like theirs – ought not give way to discouragement or despair if sometimes we are enjoying the warmth of God’s presence and sometimes we feel alone.

The godly Job said: “What is man that You magnify him, and that You are concerned about him, that You visit him every morning and [then suddenly] try him” (Job 7:17-18)? In what can we hope, or in whom can we trust, except in the great mercy of God and the promise of His immeasurable grace? For whether we are with good people or godly brothers and sisters in Christ or faithful friends; whether we have an abundance of deeply spiritual literature or hear numerous Spirit-anointed sermons; whether we sing spiritually rich hymns and songs – all these are of only a little help and give little comfort and encouragement when God has withdrawn His favor and the precious intimacy of His presence. Therefore, there is no better way to pass through such times than to follow Job’s example of patiently persevering while continuing to deny self and remaining steadfast in the will of God.

I have never met any Christian who was so pure of heart and godly of life that he never experienced occasions of the withdrawal of God’s favor or the diminishing of his own zeal for God and the things of God. To my knowledge, no Christian who has been consistently enraptured by communion with God and enlightened by the Holy Spirit concerning God and His ways, has been free of all temptation. Indeed, the most godly among us pass through times of temptation (Luke 4:13). But this is as it must be, for no one is worthy of intimate fellowship and communion with God who, for the sake of God, has not been tested and tried by trials, tribulation, and temptation. Indeed, we know that when trials, tribulation, and temptation come, God’s comfort and encouragement are sure to follow, because God’s comfort and encouragement are promised to those who are tested and proved by such things. As the scriptures says: “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life” (Revelation 2:7).

God’s comfort and encouragement are given so that we will become stronger for bearing future adversities. Trials, tribulation, and temptation follow times of sweet communion with God so that we will not become proud (puffed up). The devil never sleeps, and your flesh (old nature) is not yet completely dead. Therefore, remain vigilant and prepared for battle, for the enemies of your soul stand on your right hand and on your left, and they never let up or rest.


CHAPTER 10
On gratitude for the Grace of God

Why do you seek rest and ease in your Christian life when you are born to work – and hard work at that. Consider these two examples: Continuing to be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, and accurately handling the word of truth so that you continue growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, requires the same kind of effort as is required to provide food, clothing and shelter (Genesis 3:17-19). Putting off the old nature, dying to self, denying our flesh, and putting on the character qualities, thoughts, words, and deeds of Jesus requires the same kind of effort as was required of Israel in driving the sinful nations out of the Promised Land so that it would become the land of God’s people (II Peter 1:3-11). Therefore, prepare yourself for patient endurance more than for the comforts and encouragement of God. Prepare yourself for bearing your cross more than for times of relief from trials, testing, and temptation.

Who among us would not gladly receive God’s comfort, encouragement, spiritual refreshment, and heavenly joy, if we could always have it? Truly, God’s companionship, comforts, and joy exceed all the delights of the world and all the pleasures of the flesh. For all worldly delights (earthly pleasures and treasures) are either empty or unholy (selfish, immoral), while all spiritual delights are pure, pleasant, and honorable. Indeed, spiritual delights are the offspring and reward of righteousness – poured into pure hearts and minds by God. Yet no one can continuously enjoy these God-given comforts and encouragements – even if they set their mind on doing so – because times of refreshing and freedom from temptation never last long (Luke 4:13; I Peter 5:8-9).

Be wary of self-deception in the face of spiritually dry times, difficult times, trials, and temptation, for there is a great difference between the two available ways we can deal with such times. The first way is to patiently wait on God and find contentment in His companionship, comforts, and joy – as He gives them. The second way is to exercise the confidence you have in yourself to know what is best for you, act as if you have the right to take matters into your own hands, and do what it takes to quickly create your own sense of security, comfort, and well-being. The first way builds faith in God, keeps us in fellowship with God, and further transforms us into the likeness of Jesus. The second way, though it makes us feel better for the moment, weakens our faith in God, nurtures pride and rebellion against God, and distances us from intimate fellowship with God.

God is graciously doing a great good when He bestows on us His comforts and encouragements. We, on the other hand, are doing a great evil when we do not quickly give God thanks for His gracious gifts. Truly, laziness in giving thanks amounts to treating God as if He owes us these gifts. Outright ingratitude toward the Giver of every good and perfect gift is a manifestation of pride, and pride obstructs the flow of God’s gracious gifts to us. For God freely pours out His grace in proportion to the humble gratitude of the one receiving His grace, but opposes and withholds His grace from the proud (James 4:6; I Peter 5:5).

I do not desire any comfort or encouragement which decreases my sorrow and remorse or diminishes my broken and contrite heart over any sin I have committed (James 4:8-10; Psalm 51:17). I treasure no intimate fellowship with God which leads to pride. Indeed, all that is high is not holy, nor is everything that is sweet good; every desire is not pure, nor is everything that is dear to us pleasing to God. Therefore I willingly accept God’s good and perfect will, whether it results in gain or loss, for both are intended to produce greater humility in me, more vigilance against sin in daily living, and an ever-growing readiness to renounce self.

Those who, by the grace of God, have gained a great knowledge of God when most everything seems to be going right, and have gained the wisdom of God during times of trial and tribulation, do not dare credit themselves with having made such progress in the faith (II Corinthians 3:5-6). Rather, they are quick to confess their own human failings, spiritual weakness, and need of God’s gracious assistance and strength for growing in Christ-likeness (Philippians 4:12-13; II Corinthians 12:9; Galatians 2:20).

Therefore, in sincere humility give unto God what belongs to God (Matthew 22:21) and attribute to yourself what belongs to you. In other words, in sincere humility praise God for His gracious and abundant assistance and empowerment – for surely the praise for such things belongs to Him. And in sincere humility confess your faults and acknowledge that you deserve even more in the way of judgment and punishment than you have received from God (Psalm 103:10).

With a humble heart and attitude sit in the lowest place wherever you go, and let someone other than yourself raise you up to the highest (Proverbs 27:2; Luke 14:10), for there is no such thing as a high and honorable position without a lowly one.

Follow the example of those who are most spiritual, and therefore most honorable in the Body of Christ. These are those who are least in their own sight. In fact, the more spiritual they are, the more humble they are. Because they are filled with God’s grace and are being conformed to the image of Christ, they do not desire the empty, temporal glory that comes from the praises of men. Looking only to God for their sense of well-being and source of security, and relying on His strength alone, they stand immune to the praises of men and dead to foolish desires for earthly glory. And because they attribute to God all the good they have received, they do not seek praise from one another, but rather they seek the glory that is from the one and only God. They long for God to be praised for Himself. They long for God to be praised above all others and above all things by all His children. Therefore, they devote themselves, day in and day out, to the persistent pursuit of greater humility and holiness.

If you will give heartfelt thanks for the smallest and the least benefit or blessing from God, then you will nurture a mindset and character that will be worthy of receiving greater ones. Treat the smallest benefit as you would the greatest, and the least significant blessing as if it were a special gift. When the majesty of the Giver is properly considered, and when He is your greatest treasure, nothing that He gives will seem small or of little worth, for nothing that is given by the Most High God is insignificant. Even when He gives discipline and punishment we ought to be thankful, because whatever He wills or allows to come into our life is for our good.

If you want to maintain the favor and grace of God, you must be thankful for what is given and humbly patient when such things as have been given are withheld or taken away. When some of God’s favor or grace is taken away, you may pray for its return. But pray carefully and humbly so as not to lose out altogether by attributing evil to God or inferring He has failed you.


CHAPTER 11
On the small number of Christians who love the Cross of Jesus

Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross. He has many seekers of a comfortable life, but few who treasure trials and tribulation for the spiritual growth that is gained through them. He finds many at His communion table, but few who join Him in fasting and prayer. All want to be part of praising Him in worship and rejoicing over the miraculous deeds He has done. Few want to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Many follow Jesus because of what He will do for them, but few in order to share in His sufferings or to endure martyrdom for the honor of His name. Many serve Jesus – at least in part – because of what they get out of it, such as recognition, position, financial gain, and the like. Few serve Jesus solely for what it does for Him. Many are quick to speak of His miracles, His blessings, and His gifts. Few speak of the heinousness of sin, the rebelliousness of sinners against God, the wrath of God against sin, eternal damnation for unrepentant sinners, the necessity of repentance and obedience for salvation, the denying of self, and the daily carrying of the cross in following Jesus. Many love Jesus as long as good things happen to them, or as long as bad things are either so minimal or insignificant that they make no discernable difference in their lives. Many praise Him and bless Him as long as they continue to receive tangible blessings from Him. But if Jesus is not making their life better – according to earthly expectations, or if He is not giving them a vibrant and exhilarating sense of His presence, or if He allows hard times to come upon them, they either give way to complaining or to discouragement and despair.
 
However, those who love Jesus for Jesus’ sake, and not for any temporal blessing or even something so worthy as the uplifting sense of His presence, praise Him the same when going through terrible trials and heart-breaking tribulation as when being comforted and encouraged by His blessings or through intimate communion with Him. And should they never receive another earthly blessing from the Lord or enjoy another moment of fellowship with Him, they would continue to praise Him and unceasingly thank Him. Oh what power a pure love for Jesus – free of any self-interest or selfish gain – has over our thinking, values, attitudes, desires, choices, and behavior.
 
Think carefully about this: should not those who expect God to continually pour out more and more blessings on them be called selfish businessmen since they are more concerned about earning a profit than providing a quality product? Do not those who are constantly seeking some profit and advantage for themselves in the service of God prove that they love themselves more than God?
 
Where shall one be found who is willing to serve God for God’s sake alone? Sadly, it is rare to find anyone who has arrived at such spiritual maturity as to be free of all selfish motives and desires in relation to serving God or serving in the church. Such a Christian is truly humble and dead to this world and the things of this world, and the quality and worth of his character is beyond measure.
 
Though we give away all our possessions in order to break free from the distraction of earthly things, we have only taken a few steps in the direction of nurturing godly behavior and a pure heart. If after sinning we confess what we have done, mourn and weep with a broken and contrite heart, put away the unholy thinking, turn away from the ungodly behavior, and return to the narrow path, we have only returned to where we were with God before we sinned. If we understand everything in the holy scriptures, and if we can powerfully and beautifully proclaim what we know, we still must apply what we know to our own desires, thoughts, attitudes, eyes, ears, mouth, and actions to go from being a deluded hearer to an effective doer of God’s word. Though we give our time, or even our lives in service to our Lord, we will be vessels for honor, set apart for His use, useful for His purposes, and prepared for whatever He wills us to do only when we cleanse ourselves from those things that soil us and make us vessels for dishonor.
 
However, in all of these actions taken and efforts made in the pursuit of godly behavior and a pure heart, there is one thing that, without it, very little spiritual progress will be made. So what is that one thing? It is the renouncing, the denial, the putting to death of self – self-centeredness, self-rule, self-importance, self-pity, and self-deception, along with all the ways self keeps our old nature alive. Now those who have renounced and denied and crucified self, have also crucified pride, with the goal of no longer living for themselves but for our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ..
 
Now when the humble have done all that they know Christ requires of them, they feel as if they have done nothing worthy of praise. Therefore, let us never be proud of the progress made in Christ-likeness, even if the progress is great in comparison to others we know. Rather, when we do all the things which Christ requires of us, let us acknowledge – inwardly and outwardly – that we are unworthy slaves of Christ because we have done only that which we ought to have done (Luke 17:10). When this is our mindset before God and man, we truly will be poor in spirit. Yet we will also be spiritually blessed, for Jesus himself said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). And again we read: God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; I Peter 5:5).
 
Truly, no one is richer, no one stronger, no one freer to live a godly life than the one who knows how to crucify self, give up his self-life, and become nothing in his own eyes. Surely this one lives for the Lord.


CHAPTER 12
On the wisdom of taking the way of the Cross

These words of Christ, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me,” seem severe and excessive to many Christians (Matthew 16:24). Yet without question, it will be far more severe to hear on judgment day, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

Those who willingly heed the way of the Cross in this life have no reason to fear that they will hear the words of condemnation to eternal damnation in the next (Romans 6:1-11; Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20, 5:24). And though not all heed the way of the Cross now, when our Lord comes in judgment at the end of this age, it will be undeniably seen by all that the Cross was the way to life. At that time, all the servants of the Cross who conformed themselves to the Crucified in this life, will boldly draw near to Christ the Judge. Therefore, why fear or shy away from denying yourself and taking up your cross day after day when it is the only sure path to an abundant life – now and for eternity (John 10:10; Ephesians 3:20-21)?

In the way of the Cross there is mental, emotional, and spiritual health. In the way of the Cross there is true security and protection – in this life and on into the next. The way of the Cross produces an inner peace and heavenly joy that is beyond description, regardless of the circumstances. The way of the Cross nurtures sensible thinking, strong convictions, worthy values, and perseverance to the end. In the way of the Cross there is fulness of the Holy Spirit. And the way of the Cross produces mature godliness and whole-hearted, whole-life holiness.

Do not let anyone deceive you on this matter: there is no spiritual health and no hope of eternal life apart from the Cross of Christ. Therefore, take up your cross and follow Jesus. Die to sin and self, and come alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). No longer live for yourself, but live for Him who died and rose again on your behalf (II Corinthians 5:15). Then you will go with Jesus on into eternal life (II Timothy 2:11). Indeed, He has shown us the way by bearing His cross and dying for us upon the Cross. True, He did this for our salvation, but He also did this to set an example so that we would follow in His steps – bearing our cross, and counting it a privilege to crucify our flesh upon it. For if we die with Him, we shall also live with Him for eternity (Romans 6:5-7). And if we share in His sufferings, we shall also share in His glory (I Peter 4:12-14).

Take heed! Everything spiritual and eternal depends upon the Cross. Everything related to living the Christian life, to pursuing a pure heart and godly behavior, to being conformed to the likeness of Christ, depends on dying to your old nature and denying your flesh. (Colossians 3:1-12). There is no other way to put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14), and there is no other way to genuine inner peace except by way of the Cross of Christ and daily dying to self upon it. No matter where you go or what you do or how long you search, you will not find a better path to intimate communion with God or to greater safety from the desires of your flesh, the allurements of the world, and the wiles of the devil than the way of the Cross.

Many Christians try to avoid suffering as if suffering were a threat to their well-being. Yet even if they were able to arrange the circumstances of life according to their own desires and good judgment, they would still have times of suffering – either as a consequence of some of their choices or in spite of their choices. Therefore, make the most of every occasion of suffering, because suffering provides a ready opportunity to carry your cross.

No one is totally free of physical pain and sickness or the mental and emotional struggles associated with such things as disappointment, anxiety, resentment, fear, and despair. And who can go through life without experiencing heart-felt struggles over broken relationships, rejection, loss of a loved one, or loneliness? Sometimes you will feel forsaken by God. Sometimes you will be troubled or even sorely tried by a neighbor or co-worker or family member. But even more often, you will bring troubles, hardship, anxiety, and anguish upon yourself as a result of your own careless thoughts, foolish choices, and selfish behavior. And try as you might to ease your pain, or numb yourself to the pain, or live in denial, or distract yourself by self-medicating or immersing yourself in gratifying activities, you still must go through such circumstances until God delivers you. So the wisest, most spiritually profitable way to pass through them is to bear up under them. Why? Because this is one of God’s ways to teach you how to remain submissive and faithful in the face of suffering – especially when the support of His comfort and encouragement seem absent – so that you grow in faith and humility.

No one understands the Passion of Christ in the depths of his heart as thoroughly as those who have passed through similar suffering themselves (I Peter 2:21-24). [The Passion of Christ is commonly understood to refer to His sufferings prior to the cross, and on through the cross to His resurrection.] To enable us to gain this understanding, and to live the Christian life as one sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:10; Colossians 1:24), God has graciously made the Cross always ready and waiting to be picked up. In fact, no matter where you go, there is no escaping the ever present opportunities to pick it up. For wherever you go you take yourself, and because you are there, so is that part of you that still needs to be put to death.

Once again, wherever you go – be it above, below, without, or within – you will find opportunities to pick up your cross and take the way of the Cross. If you do pick up your cross and take the way of the Cross, you will need confident trust in God’s dealings, and humble patience in life’s circumstances. But if you do this, you will find true inward peace and gain the everlasting crown.

You will always have suffering in this world, but if you willingly bear the Cross, it will carry you – bringing you to Christian maturity in this life and eternal glory in the next. And in the next, there will be no more suffering. If you grudgingly bear the Cross, you will turn it into a heavier burden than it is already. Yet still you must bear it. If you throw one cross aside – thinking it heavier than you can bear – there will be another and possibly heavier one for you to pick up.

Are you looking for ways to escape what no child of God has been able to avoid? The most godly among men have had to endure the way of the cross, along with trials and tribulation. Not even Jesus Christ, our Lord – who was perfectly sinless in all ways – was free from the anguish of His Passion. After His resurrection, He pointed to the scriptures to affirm that He had to suffer before rising from the dead on the third day (Luke 24:46). If this was the path to glory for Christ, why do we think, for even a moment, that we should seek another way than His way, which is the way of the Cross?

Since the way of Christ was a cross and martyrdom, why would you seek ease and personal happiness for yourself? To do so indicates you are believing a lie about the nature of the Christian life. Or it means you are willfully choosing a way other than the way of Christ (Matthew 10:37-38).

Truly, the way of the cross is the way of denying self and putting to death your old sinful ways. And without question, each of us have many and varied opportunities to pick up our cross and go further in dying to self and in coming alive to living for God, because life includes many trials, tribulations, suffering, and miseries.

The further a Christian advances in the way of godliness, the heavier the crosses he will have to bear, because the cost of dying to self increases as our love for God increases.[1] Yet those who, because of increased love, experience increased affliction in bearing their cross, do not lack for the refreshing comfort and encouragement of our loving Father. In fact, they feel the blessed presence of God, the assurance by the Holy Spirit that they are children of God, and the confident hope of eternal life.

Here is how it works: as we willingly and joyfully submit to carrying our cross, every burden and trial and tribulation draws us closer to God. As we draw closer to God, we experience in an ever increasing way His precious presence, marvelous grace, and abundant strength. The more our flesh is put to death in the fires of affliction, the more our spirit is strengthened and perfected by the comfort and gracious work of God within us (James 1:2-4).

Often times, the one who willingly and joyfully submits to carrying his cross – out of a longing to be conformed more and more to the likeness of Christ – does not want his tribulations and adversities to end. The reason for this is that he sees his suffering as an open door to sweet communion and companionship with God, to an abundant flow of inward comfort and peace from God, to further growth in godliness, and to increased usefulness to God. Now from the flesh side of our nature, this obviously is an unnatural desire. Therefore, when we live according to this desire, it demonstrates the empowering and energizing work of Christ within our weak flesh rather than any quality of character belonging to the nature with which we were born. For how else can we explain coming to a place where we want and even love what our flesh naturally hates and flees?

It is not natural to your human nature to want to bear the cross. It is not natural to love the way of the cross or to discipline and even buffet your flesh in order to keep it from overpowering your will as you will to do the will of God. It is not natural to your human nature to flee the praises and honors of men, to meekly bear disapproval and rebukes, to humbly despise yourself and welcome being despised by others, to bear all adversities and losses without complaint, and to desire no prosperity in this world. And if you try in your own unaided human strength to achieve any of this, you will fail. But if you trust in the Lord, He will give you the grace and power necessary to endure to the end in working out your salvation (Philippians 2:12-13, 4:13). In fact, if you will fight the good fight of faith, His grace and empowerment will enable you to be victorious over the allurements of the world and the cravings of your flesh (I Timothy 1:18-19, 6:11-12; Galatians 5:16-17). And as you take the way of the cross, trusting in the Lord for the strength required to live a godly life, you won’t even fear your adversary the devil (James 4:7; I Peter 5:8-9). Therefore, like all good and faithful servants of Christ, commit yourself – day by day – to boldly and resolutely bearing the cross of our Savior and Lord, who out of love was crucified for you.

Because of the many adversities and various kinds of trouble that are part of life in general, along with those specifically related to bearing the cross, you will need to prepare yourself – day by day – in order to remain faithful to the way of the cross. Indeed, there is no escaping trials and tribulation in this life whatever you do or wherever you go – including living like a hermit far from everyone else. Therefore, since the only godly way to deal with tribulation and suffering is to endure them patiently, your preparation must include much prayer, daily study of God’s word, meditation on those scriptures that help you remain on the narrow path, and frequent contemplation on the character and ways of God.

If you desire to be a friend of Christ and to follow Christ in doing the will of God, then willingly and lovingly drink from the cup that He drank. Leave your sense of need for comfort and encouragement to God, trusting Him to do as He deems best. But for your part, focus on honoring God and remaining faithful to Christ by patiently enduring tribulations – considering them your friends who build your faith, perfect your character, and press you ever deeper into intimate fellowship with God. Indeed, the scripture says: “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). In other words, the sufferings of this life – even though patiently endured – are insignificant compared to the growth in perseverance and spiritual perfecting that comes when you joyfully endure the testing of your faith (James 1:2-4).

It is a sign of commendable spiritual growth – growth that has led you to experiencing a touch of heaven on earth – when you come to the place of receiving tribulation as precious and pleasant, for Christ’s sake. However, you will remain spiritually immature and weak in faith as long as suffering is odious to you, and therefore something to be avoided or escaped as quickly as possible. But even if you try to avoid trials and tribulation you won’t be able to. God’s discipline will be working against your avoiding efforts to urge you toward Christian maturity (Hebrews 12:3-13). Therefore, set your mind on the things of Christ and value what He holds dear, namely, to bear your cross and die to self. If you do this, you will find more joy and inward peace than you can currently imagine.

Just as trying to avoid suffering will not keep you from experiencing trials and tribulation, so having a supernatural experience, like being caught up with Paul into the third heaven, won’t keep you from them either (II Corinthians 12:2-4). Though Paul was superbly spiritual, empowered to perform miracles, and filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus said of him: “I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16). Surely you are no better than Paul. Therefore, you should expect to suffer trials and tribulation if you love Jesus and are committed to serving Him to the end of your days.

Consider it a privilege to be counted worthy to suffer something for the name of Jesus, for then great glory awaits you, and the saints of God will rejoice over you, and your fellow Christians will be encouraged by your example to take the way of the Cross (Acts 5:41; Matthew 5:11-12; I Peter 4:12-16).

Patient endurance in the face of suffering is commended by all, but few are willing to practice it. You, however, ought to be willing to suffer a little for Christ’s sake when many unbelievers willingly suffer much for the sake of worldly gain.

The wise Christian knows for certain that he ought to lead the life of a dying man, for the more we die to ourselves, the more we live unto God.

No one can gain the spiritual condition necessary to understand heavenly things, unless he submits himself to patiently bearing trials and tribulations for the sake Christ.

There is nothing more acceptable to God, and nothing more healthy for you in this world – mentally, emotionally, and spiritually – than to take up your cross and suffer hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. And if it were yours to choose, the wisest choice without exception is to choose to suffer adversities for Christ rather than to choose comfort and encouragement from Christ. For in choosing to suffer with Christ, you become more like Christ and more like all the other godly men and women who have chosen the way of the Cross.

Truly, it is not the comforts and encouragements of God that transform us into worthy servants of God or conform us to the likeness of Christ. Such transformation and growth comes from patiently enduring all the troubles and adversities that result from taking up our cross and following Jesus.

If in fact there was a better, more profitable path to the spiritual health of every Christian than to suffer, Christ certainly would have told us in word and shown us by example. Yet it was Christ himself who exhorted His disciples, and all who wish to follow Him, to take the way of the Cross, when He said: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). 

Now that we have thoroughly searched and studied both what God has to say and what experience has to teach on this subject, let us hear the conclusion of this whole matter: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22b). 
[1] The more you love God, the more you realize that those parts of self that are still alive are alive because of how much you treasure them. And you have continued to treasure them because you have not yet been willing to let go of them, and have not yet made an effort equal to the task of putting them out of your life. However, when you come to the point where your love for God compels you to put to death what you have been clinging to so tenaciously, you then realize the immense cost to your self-life of denying and dying to that which you have wrongfully and foolishly held dear.