IC.02-The Imitation of Christ, 2—Offering Ourselves

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/ic-02-the-imitation-of-christ-2/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>The structure of James Watkins' arrangement (encompassing 90 of the 114 chapters in <i>The Imitation of Christ</i>) is:</p><p>I. Imitating Christ (Introduction) -- 5 chapters<br />II. Imitating Christ's Character -- 85 chapters<br />Loving, Teachable, Wise, Trusting, Obedient, Self-sacrificing, Humble, Gracious, Forgiving, Patient, Peaceful, Pure, Disciplined, Self-controlled, Eternally Minded.</p><p>Lead-in scripture: Romans 12:1-2</p><p>Verses cited or alluded to: 1 Chr 29:11,17; Heb 9:14; Ps 25:11; 1 Pet 1:18-19. There is also a citation from the apocryphal 1 Macc 13:46.</p><p>The Prayer of Manasseh, which I mentioned in my comments, is included in <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/ot40-manassehmp3/">this podcast</a>.</p><p>To download a .pdf version of an alternate (an older) translation of <i>The Imitation of Christ,</i> click <a href="http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Imitation-of-Christ.pdf"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p><img src="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/wp-content/uploads/IC2.jpg" alt="" width="168" /><p><strong>Application:</strong><br />1. Without being morbidly fascinated with our own wrongdoing, we can still pray for forgiveness for specific sins, and (even better?) for specific categories of sin, since harmful <i>patterns</i> tend to reoccur in our lives.<br />2. Thomas à Kempis, although he was a productive and spiritual man, recognized himself as "lazy and useless." Do we take our own idleness and laziness seriously? A hard worker who is humble is usually aware of room for improvement. Are we too soft on ourselves?<br />3. When I pray, do I seek only forgiveness, or also a good conscience? Without a purified conscience, it is difficult to take a stand for the Lord. We may struggle with insecurity or second-guessing ourselves.</p><p><i>Tomorrow: "On Taking Up Christ's Cross" (Book 2, Chapter 11)</i></p><p>