Me: Prodigal, are you staring at yourself in the mirror.
Prodigal: Just checking the outfit out.
Me: That is fine, but be wary of it turning into vanity.
Prodigal: I don’t want that.
This is from the book The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis
Vain is he that setteth his hope in man, or in creatures. Be not thou ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ; nor to be esteemed poor in this world.
Presume not upon thyself, but place thy hope in God. Do what lieth in thee, and God will assist thy goodwill.
Trust not in thine own knowledge, nor in the subtilty of any living creature; but rather in the grace of God, who helpeth the humble, and humbleth those that are self-presuming.
2. Glory not in wealth if thou have it, nor in friends because they are powerful; but in God who giveth all things, and above all desireth to give thee Himself.
Extol not thyself for the height of thy statue, or beauty of thy person, which is disfigured and destroyed by a little sickness.
Take not pleasure in thy natural gifts, or talent, lest thereby thou displease God, whose is all the good, whatsoever thou hast by nature.
Esteem not thyself better than others, lest perhaps in the sight of God, who knoweth what is in man, thou be accounted worse than they. Be not proud of good works, for the judgments of God are different from the judgments of men, and that often offendeth Him which pleaseth men. If there by any good in thee, believe better things of others, that so thou mayest preserve humility. It doth no hurt to thee to set thyself lower than all men, but it hurteth thee exceedingly if thou set thyself before even one man. Continual peace is with the humble; but in the heart of the proud is envy and frequent indignation.
We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Mark 14:58
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
