- If you seek rest in this life, how will you reach eternal rest in the next? Set yourself, not on much rest, but on great patience. Seek true peace, not on earth but in heaven, not in men or any other creature, but in God alone. (Ch. 35)
- [On the cross Jesus did not have a full suit of armor, nor any clothes, i.e., no protection--but was stripped naked. So should we be on the cross with a suit of armor? Embrace our cross when all that we sought for--comfort and consolation, safety and security--is stripped away from us. God leaves us stripped because that is exactly where you and I need to be, so that the only thing we need is God's grace.]
Ch. 34: One who loves has a taste for God above all things and in all things. (God is the lover's only delight.) The savor of Creator and creature are quite different. They are the tastes of eternity as opposed to time, uncreated light versus reflected light. Fill me with your Presence and become my all in all (Col 3:11). Woe is me. The old man lives in me still. He has not yet been totally crucified, not yet completely put to death. He still lusts strongly against the spirit, and wages war in my innards, refusing to leave the soul's kingdom in peace. There is no hope nor refuge for me, except in you, O Lord, my God. [Hierarchy and priority that God has to be the center and everything else must be a distant 2nd (Lk 14:26; Mt 10:37; Jn 21:15). Every blessing and every heavy cross (which is also a blessing) comes from the love of God.]
Ch. 35: There is no safety (freedom) from temptation in this life. You are never secure in this life. As long as you live you will always need spiritual weapons (Eph 6:10-18). If you do not place your heart firmly in God with a true will to suffer everything for God's sake, you will not be able to withstand such intensity (the fierceness of the battle nor attain the crown reserved for the blessed). If you seek rest in this life, how will you reach eternal rest in the next? Set yourself, not on much rest, but on great (stalwart) patience. Seek true peace, not on earth but in heaven, not in men or any other creature, but in God alone. [We are called to fight, to be strong, to overcome, to resist, but Thomas Kempis repeatedly emphasizes that we are called to be patient. Even the great saints did not have great spiritual consolations. They were grieved, wounded, hurt, tempted, opposed, slandered, persecuted, even hated as much as anyone else, but they had patience.]
Ch. 36: Against the vain judgments of human beings. Cast your heart firmly on the Lord and fear no human judgment when your conscience accounts you loyal and guiltless. It is good and blessed to suffer in this way. Many people say many things, and so they should not be given much credence, nor is it possible to be enough for everyone (1 Cor 10:33; 9:22; 4:3). (You cannot satisfy everyone.) (Paul) did plenty for the edification and salvation of others, as much as he had in him and was able to. But he could not prevent being judged or disregarded by others at times. Keep God before your eyes and do not fight back against fighting words. [Jesus suffered rejection, opposition, persecution, betrayal, tortue, death--the worst of everything anyone can suffer. Then should I have a life without suffering such things??]
Ch. 37: Resigning oneself purely and entirely in order to gain freedom of heart. [The word "stripped" or "naked" is used repeatedly in this chapter.] Lord, how often shall I resign myself? In what matters shall I leave myself behind? Always, at all times, in small matters and great ones. God makes no exceptions. What God wants is to find you stripped bare in everything. Resign yourself and you will enjoy great inner peace. Die to yourself and live for God eternally. Then excess fear will part from you and disordered love will die. [On the cross Jesus did not have a full suit of armor, nor any clothes, i.e., no protection--but was stripped naked. So should we be on the cross with a suit of armor? Embrace our cross when all that we sought for--comfort and consolation, safety and security--is stripped away from us. God leaves us stripped because that is exactly where you and I need to be when we take up our cross. So we need God's grace.]
Holiness involves cultivating a “taste for God” in all circumstances. How important is patience and perseverance in all things? How spiritually vulnerable are you before God? How free are you of self-reliance, pride, and defense?
I cannot change on my own. Please convict me and give me the grace so that I can have a taste for you above all things, that I can find refuge in you from temptation in this life, that I do not care about what other people think, and that I may resign myself purely and entirely in order to gain freedom of heart by your grace.
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