BIBLION MAGAZINE INTERACTIVE EDITION (EN) #7 / JAN-MAR 2018 | Page 9

B I B L I O N - ENGLISH VERSION Control is an illusion. Fame is an illusion. The Voice of) Christ” and “The Disciple”, a tool sinful condition of the human being and his Kempis uses to strengthen his message. By dependence in God are quite real, however, adopting the role of “The Disciple”, the and Kempis does not flee from this reality; in reader becomes a key part of the teaching fact, he encourages the and identifies with the charac- reader to embrace it ter’s prayers and difficulties. with a humble and broken It should be noted that this heart, a heart that seeks “disciple” seems to based on God’s will alone. the author’s own experience, The author highlights the as the following quote indi- importance of our interior cates: “How wise was Your life in the walk with Jesus. warning to beware of men; The Christian must be abso- that a man’s enemies are lutely humble and obedient, those of his own household; with a love for Christ greater that we should not believe if than the love for the self. As anyone says: ‘Behold he is human beings, we are weak here, or behold he is there.’ I and unstable; we depend on have been taught to my own cost, God’s grace and power to and I hope it has given me greater galvanize us: “How great is caution, not greater folly.” T H E I M I TAT I O N O F C H R I S T THOMAS H. KEMPIS the frailty of human nature With a striking, severe which is ever prone to evil!” Kempis does not depiction of the true follower of Jesus, The ignore the hardship ascribed to the decision of Imitation of Christ continues to test and ins- following Jesus’ example; in fact, he raises the pire thousands upon thousands of believers bar even more: “Realize that you must lead a all around the world. This is a devotional that dying life; the more a man dies to himself, the intimidates but also educates, with a powerful more he begins to live unto God.” and lasting message to the Church of our One of the most interesting characteristics days. of this book is the dialogue between “(The www.biblion.pt 9