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December 31, 2004
 Christ,
Himself, is the eternal blueprint for our lives. Only in studying Him, in measuring
ourselves by Him, do we grow securely upon the foundation of God.
Beloved, we were created to become like Christ. Yet, some would lead us to a lesser
destiny. They teach that a stumbling, disobedient people can somehow also be the
same "overcomers" spoken of in the Sacred book. Yet, God's plan has not faded out
or become obsolete! Even as Christ has not changed, so neither has the plan of God
for the church. Our transformation will burn in God's heart "until we all attain
to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man,
to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians
4:13).
CHRISTLIKENESS: WHAT WE BECOME, NOT
WHAT WE DO
You see, the focus of both leadership and congregations should be upon attaining
Christlike transformation. This has been the Father's purpose from the beginning
of time and it remains His unchanging goal at the end of the age (See Genesis 1:26-27
and Romans 8:28-29).
At the same time, just as an individual can have a unique calling, so congregations
can be called to fulfill a variety of subordinate, yet important, priorities. A
congregation may have a strong outreach program to the poor or they may possess
a special grace to release spiritual gifts. A church may have a unique skill to
reach youth or a wisdom in strengthening marriages. There are many legitimate tasks
assigned by God to individual congregations.
The problem is that, too often, we define ourselves by what we do for God rather
than what we become to Him. What pleases the Father most is not what proceeds from
our hands but what rises from our hearts. He is seeking the revelation of His Son
in us.
Thus, over the years, I have learned that there is nothing on earth that so pleases
the Father's heart as when Jesus Christ is revealed in us. It is this singular goal:
the focused pursuit of Christlikeness, that is our quest.
A STRONG FOUNDATION
Our mission is to bring as many people to heaven as we can, in as Christlike condition
as possible. When we refer to becoming Christlike, we mean becoming people who think,
pray, and act out of love; Christians who are humble and committed to true spiritual
unity with other churches; disciples who are known for their love for one another.
This is why we focus on revealing Christ Himself instead of being caught up perfecting
peripheral or subordinate doctrines. Other aspects of Christianity develop correctly
only as they are built upon the foundation of Christlikeness. No aspect of our spirituality
was created to exist apart from Christ.
THAT I MAY KNOW HIM
In pursuing Christlikeness we find true balance and spiritual assurance that we
are not being led astray. Indeed, Paul said that the result of seeking the full
stature of Christ, is that "we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there
by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by
craftiness in deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14).
Paul warned that people can be "carried about by every wind of doctrine." Yes, false
doctrines are dangerous, but Paul wasn't limiting his warning only to false teachings.
For even a true doctrine can have a false emphasis and lead us astray. The pursuit
of Christlikeness aligns us with the Father's highest priority for our lives. It
secures us upon the path to truth.
Paul also wrote that intimacy with Jesus Christ was the deepest cry of his heart.
He wrote, "that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Philippians 3:10). Yet, he was
not speaking of some esoteric knowledge of Christ, but an intimacy that lead to
conformity. Do you see this? He wrote, "that I may know Him. . . being conformed."
Knowing Christ and being conformed to Him is of the same essence.
Our quest is to see hundreds of thousands of Christlike Christians planted in every
nation of the world. If radical Muslims will lay their lives down in murder and
hatred of their enemies, how much more must we, as followers of the Lamb, lay our
lives down in love to secure salvation for our enemies.
by Francis Frangipane
www.frangipane.org
comments@frangipane.org
A service of Frangipane Ministries, Inc.
Copyright (c) 2004
All rights reserved.
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