So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. Matthew 7:11
“Live for Him and not for yourself, just as He became yours and lives for you and remains yours for all eternity. You must therefore live for, praise, love, serve, and intend His eternal glory rather than any reward, comfort, savor, consolation, or anything else which could accrue to you from such behavior, for genuine love does not seek its own advantage; it thereby possesses both God and everything else, since it overcomes nature through grace.
Therefore give to Christ your Bridegroom all that you are and all that you have and are capable of, and do so with a free and generous heart. He will then give you in return all that He is and all that lies in His power. Never will you have seen a more joyful day than that. He will open for you His glorious and loving heart and the inmost part of His soul, all full of glory, grace, joy, and faithfulness. There you will find your joy and will grow and increase in heartfelt affection.”
John Ruusbroec (1293-1381) in The Spiritual Espousals and Other Works, translated by James A. Wiseman (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1985) 188.
Who is John Ruusbroec? He’s a famous Flemish saint. Remember for the first 1,500 years or so of God’s Church everyone was Catholic. During that timeframe there are many deeply committed Christ-followers who were great writers. I’ve decided to read excerpts daily from this time period for the next few weeks. I hope you are blessed by the quotes I locate.
In plain terms, Ruusbroec is saying live for God, not for yourself. Do it not for rewards in this life or the life to come, but do it out of love for Christ who gave you everything by grace. Hold nothing back and He will hold nothing back from you. What profound truths!
God, help us live according to these amazing realities, and in so doing, form in us free and generous hearts for your glory. Amen!
And may God cause our growth to be like the trees outside the front window of our townhouse (pictured above). Notice the purple leaves mixed with new green leaves. If the trees stop growing, they die, and the same holds true for our souls.
May our lives exhibit new growth each day by the power of the Holy Spirit!