course correction

There is something I should have pointed out at the beginning of this series of the writings of Thomas a Kempis.

The purpose of this series should not be to direct you to a legalistic following of those words themselves, but to point you to Jesus Christ, whose life inspired them.

As I read ahead in the series, I found some portions of it that seemed of less value to modern readers, especially those which pertain particularly to the monastic lifestyle. It's fine if you are called by Jesus to obey Him as a monk or nun, but it would be foolish to think that by following the monastic way you could earn your salvation. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. If you have not accepted His wonderful gift, it would be foolish to trust in any earthly program (no matter how noble) to save your soul.

We are all sinners, and there is nothing we can do for ourselves to save us. Just reading this series cannot save us. Just owning a bible cannot save us. Just being raised in "a christian home" cannot save us. Just visiting church once a year for mere tradition's sake cannot save us. Fighting for "the american way" cannot save us.

Only Jesus can save us.

If you have not accepted Him as your Savior, please pray to Him, and let Him bring you into his wonderful salvation.

Here is one good link that might help you start along that path, but remember that simply looking at those pages will not save you either. Trust Jesus to guide you every step of the way.