IC.03-The Imitation of Christ, 3—Taking Up Jesus’ Cross

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/ic-03-the-imitation-of-christ-3/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>The world of the 1420s is radically different from our modern world!</p><ul><li>Europe is still recovering from the Black Death (1347-1349), which took the lives of easily a third of all Europeans.</li><li>It is still too early for the Reformation (1517+). For example, Jan Hus tried to reform the church, but was executed (1415).</li><li>The Chinese fleet is exploring the Indian Ocean and firming up trade agreements with Africans, Arabs, and other peoples.</li><li>The Old World and the New World are still not connected. The "Columbian exchange" is still over 70 years away.</li><li>Further, it's still centuries before the industrial revolution.</li></ul><p>And yet the words of à Kempis are still on target!</p><ul><li>Human nature hasn't changed, nor has the struggle between flesh and spirit.</li><li>Perhaps because he worked so faithfully, copying manuscripts and striving to help others. He understood people, and accepted God's diagnosis of the human condition.</li><li>We humans still tend to be self-focused. We have difficulty aligning our will with God's will.</li><li>Many tend to be attracted to Christianity for mercenary reasons.</li><li>With this in mind, today's meditation is both challenging and relevant.</li></ul><img src="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/wp-content/uploads/IC3.jpg" alt="" width="123" /><p><strong>Verses cited or alluded to:</strong><br />Matt 16:24; 10:22<br />Prov 31:10<br />2 Tim 3:2<br />1 Cor 13:2<br />Luke 10:42; 17:10<br />Ps 25:16 (also Sirach 6:10)</p><p><br /><strong>Personal application:</strong></p><ul><li>Would I keep the faith if those who led me to the Lord gave up theirs?</li><li>Am I in any way a "mercenary"?</li><li>If I make my living from the gospel, do I tone down the message or show favoritism, in order to keep my job, or in order not to offend?</li><li>If God withdrew his blessings from my li