Loving Jesus Above All Things
The sermon emphasizes the importance of loving Jesus above all things, and warns against the deceitful nature of loving creatures.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the importance of loving Jesus above all else, despising oneself for His sake, and giving up all other affections for His love. He emphasizes that human affection is deceitful and inconstant, while the love of Jesus is true and enduring, providing strength and eternal life. Kempis urges believers to cling to Jesus in life and death, trusting in His unmatched help and glory. He warns against placing trust in worldly things or people, as they will ultimately disappoint, but finding true fulfillment and purpose in seeking Jesus above all else.
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BLESSED is he who appreciates what it is to love Jesus and who despises himself for the sake of Jesus. Give up all other love for His, since He wishes to be loved alone above all things.
Affection for creatures is deceitful and inconstant, but the love of Jesus is true and enduring. He who clings to a creature will fall with its frailty, but he who gives himself to Jesus will ever be strengthened.
Love Him, then; keep Him as a friend. He will not leave you as others do, or let you suffer lasting death. Sometime, whether you will or not, you will have to part with everything. Cling, therefore, to Jesus in life and death; trust yourself to the glory of Him who alone can help you when all others fail.
Your Beloved is such that He will not accept what belongs to another -- He wants your heart for Himself alone, to be enthroned therein as King in His own right. If you but knew how to free yourself entirely from all creatures, Jesus would gladly dwell within you.
You will find, apart from Him, that nearly all the trust you place in men is a total loss. Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for "all flesh is grass"[12] and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away.
You will quickly be deceived if you look only to the outward appearance of men, and you will often be disappointed if you seek comfort and gain in them. If, however, you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Him. Likewise, if you seek yourself, you will find yourself -- to your own ruin. For the man who does not seek Jesus does himself much greater harm than the whole world and all his enemies could ever do.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Loving Jesus Above All Things
- Blessed is he who loves Jesus and despises himself for His sake
- Love for creatures is deceitful and inconstant
- The love of Jesus is true and enduring
Key Quotes
“BLESSED is he who appreciates what it is to love Jesus and who despises himself for the sake of Jesus.” — Thomas a Kempis
“He who clings to a creature will fall with its frailty, but he who gives himself to Jesus will ever be strengthened.” — Thomas a Kempis
“Your Beloved is such that He will not accept what belongs to another -- He wants your heart for Himself alone, to be enthroned therein as King in His own right.” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- Give up all other loves for the love of Jesus alone.
- Seek Jesus in all things, and trust in His enduring nature.
- Do not seek comfort and gain in creatures, but in Jesus alone.