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. God's plan has not faded 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" (Eph. 4:13).
You
see, the focus of both leadership and congregations should be upon
attaining Christlike transformation and His love for people. 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 Gen. 1:26-27 and Rom. 8:29.)
The
problem is that, too often, as Christians 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. There is nothing
on earth that so pleases the Father's heart as when Jesus Christ is
revealed through us. As Paul wrote, we become a “fragrance of Christ to
God” (2 Cor. 2:15).
This
is why we focus on revealing Christ Himself. Other aspects of
Christianity develop correctly only as they emerge out of our greater
pursuit of Christlikeness. You see? No aspect of our spirituality
functions properly apart from our living union with Christ. It is here,
in pursuing Christlikeness, that we find true spiritual assurance that
we are not being led astray.
Consider:
Paul said that the result of seeking the measure of the stature that
belongs to the fullness 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" (Eph. 4).
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, for “truth is in Jesus” (Eph. 4:21). He Himself is the
way, the truth and the life.
As
a result, Paul wrote that intimacy with Christ was the deepest cry of
his heart. He said, "That I may know Him and the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to
His death" (Phil. 3:10).
He
was not speaking of some esoteric knowledge of Christ but an intimacy
that led to conformity. Do we see this? He wrote, "That I may know Him .
. . being conformed." Knowing Christ and being conformed to Him is of
the same essence. Christ Himself is the true foundation upon which we
must build our lives.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Our
quest at ICIT is to see Christlike Christians planted in every nation
of the world. Is your passion to reveal the Son of God? Do you have an
inner desire to deepen your spirituality? Then consider registering for In Christ's Image Online Training.
The first level lasts six months and provides intense, focused
attention on conformity to Christ that will deepen your spiritual walk
with God.
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