On Imitating Christ
The Fellowship of the Burning Heart
The Wisdom of Imitating Christ
Thomas à Kempis, in The Imitation of Christ, begins with the words of Jesus: “He who follows me, walks not in darkness.” He goes on to say that if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from the blindness of heart, we must imitate the life and habits of Christ. He also warns that many hear the Gospel regularly but care little for it because they don’t have the Spirit of Christ within them.
It isn’t mere learning that makes a person holy, but a life shaped by virtue and obedience to God. And yet, how often do we settle for knowledge alone, believing that simply knowing the right things is enough? How easy it is to become distracted by trivial frustrations that pull our focus away from Christ. The world constantly tells us to seek comfort, convenience, and personal satisfaction. But Thomas reminds us: “Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, except to love God and serve him alone.”
The Frustrations That Reveal Our Hearts
I find myself deeply convicted by these words. I often speak about wisdom as the art of living well. I regularly teach about cultivating an eternal perspective. I reflect on the importance of finishing well. These things matter greatly to me. And yet, like anyone else, I’m just as prone to letting momentary inconveniences derail my pursuit of Christ.
Maybe it’s getting stuck behind a slow driver when I’m in a hurry. Or taking an unexpected detour because of roadwork. Or waiting for someone to return my message when I expected a quick response. These things, (these unrealistic expectations), in the grand scheme of life, are nothing. And yet, in the moment, they can consume my thoughts and emotions. That’s when I must ask myself: Am I truly living for Christ, or am I allowing my circumstances to dictate my heart?
These little annoyances may not derail my faith entirely, but they can chip away at holiness, making me less patient, less gracious, and less Christlike in that moment. If I’m not careful, they can accumulate into a pattern of self-centeredness, where I expect life to conform to my preferences instead of conforming my heart to Christ. This is the very vanity Thomas speaks of - the foolishness of expecting the world to cater to me rather than surrendering myself to God’s will.
Learning from the Life of Christ
That’s why Thomas urges us to “study the life of Jesus Christ.” When we examine his life, we see both joy and sorrow, celebration and suffering. Christ, the sinless Son of God, took on human flesh and walked among a fallen world. He wept over Jerusalem, grieving over those who rejected him (Luke 19:41). John tells us that Jesus came to his own, but they did not receive him (John 1:11). He wasn’t deceived by the crowds that cheered him, because he knew what was in the heart of man (John 2:24-25).
If we truly studied his life - his patience, his endurance, his unwavering trust in the Father - perhaps we would begin to imitate him more closely. And yet, this is not a call to white-knuckled self-improvement. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:29 that we labor and strive with the energy that Christ powerfully works within us. It’s the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, enabling us to walk as Jesus walked.
Do We Truly Hear the Gospel?
Thomas’ words cut deep: “There are many who hear the gospel often but care little for it because they do not have the Spirit of Christ.” At first, I grieve when I read that, thinking of those who reject Christ. But then I realized that I must examine my own heart. Do I hear the Gospel often yet fail to let it transform me?
Earlier today, I studied Matthew 5:38-42, where Jesus calls us to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. My immediate instinct was to rationalize why this teaching doesn’t always apply to me. How quickly we defend ourselves against the words of Christ! But when my first response to Scripture is to resist it, that’s likely the Holy Spirit convicting me of an area in which I need to repent.
Paul warns that knowledge without love only puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). True wisdom isn’t about accumulating information but allowing God’s truth to shape our character. And so, I pray that I would not merely know about God but “love and serve him alone.” As Thomas reminds us, “The greatest wisdom is to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world.”
This world is passing away, but we belong to a Kingdom that will never fade. May we set our hearts on things above and live as citizens of heaven, imitating Christ in all we do.
Walking Points
What small frustrations tend to derail your pursuit of Christ? How can you respond to them with greater patience and grace?
When you read Scripture, do you find yourself resisting certain teachings? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal why and help you submit to God’s truth.
Until next time, keep walking wisely, and may the Lord bless you every step of the way.
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