For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

The world of the 1420s is radically different from our modern world!

• Europe is still recovering from the Black Death (1347-1349), which took the lives of easily a third of all Europeans.
• It is still too early for the Reformation (1517+). For example, Jan Hus tried to reform the church, but was executed (1415).
• The Chinese fleet is exploring the Indian Ocean and firming up trade agreements with Africans, Arabs, and other peoples.
• The Old World and the New World are still not connected. The "Columbian exchange" is still over 70 years away.
• Further, it's still centuries before the industrial revolution.

And yet the words of à Kempis are still on target!

• Human nature hasn't changed, nor has the struggle between flesh and spirit.
• 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.
• We humans still tend to be self-focused. We have difficulty aligning our will with God's will.
• Many tend to be attracted to Christianity for mercenary reasons.
• With this in mind, today's meditation is both challenging and relevant.

Verses cited or alluded to:
Matt 16:24; 10:22
Prov 31:10
2 Tim 3:2
1 Cor 13:2
Luke 10:42; 17:10
Ps 25:16 (also Sirach 6:10)

Personal application:

• Would I keep the faith if those who led me to the Lord gave up theirs?
• Am I in any way a "mercenary"?
• 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?
• If God withdrew his blessings from my life (think Job 1-2), would I still make the effort to imitate Christ?

We will continue these thoughts tomorrow with "The Royal Way of the Cross."

Cool à Kempis quotes:

• If you gave more frequent thought to your death than to a long life, you would unquestionably be more eager to amend your life.
• It is better for you to live privately and take care of yourself than it is to neglect your soul even though you could work wonders in the world.
• Also, check out the à Kempis tweets.