.....................................................................................................................................
By Francis
Frangipane
For many, Christianity is simply the religion into which they were born.
For others, although
Jesus is truly their Savior, their relationship with Him is hardly more than a
history lesson, a study of what He did in the past.
For those who truly
love Him, however, Christ is Savior and more: He is their very life (Colossians 3:4).
When Jesus is your
life you cannot go on without Him.
There is a story of a
man who, in search of God, came to study at the feet of an old sage.
The master brought
this young man to a lake and led him out into the shoulder-deep water.
Putting his hands
upon his pupil's head, he promptly pushed him under the water and continued to
hold him there until the disciple, feeling he would surely drown, frantically
repelled the old man's resistance.
In shock and
confusion, the young man resurfaced.
"What
is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
His
teacher looked him in the eyes and said, "When you desire God as
you desired air, you shall find Him."
Was
this not the attitude of the psalmist when he wrote, "As the deer pants
for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God"? (Psalm 42:1)
You see, there is a
place in seeking God where our heart goes beyond the limits of desire, where
the actual issue becomes one of survival.
I need Christ as a
drowning man needs air and as a parched deer needs water.
It is here, where we
feel we cannot exist without seeking and finding the reality of God, that our
deepest passion is fulfilled.
If you
haven't attended our In Christ's Image online training, allow me to
personally invite you. The course contains some of the most important realities
I've found concerning Christlike transformation. Please see www.icitc.org. for
more information. - Francis Frangipane
Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, When the Many Are One, available at www.arrowbookstore.com.
Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, When the Many Are One, available at www.arrowbookstore.com.
Francis
Frangipane
is the founder of River of Life Ministries in Cedar Rapids IA and has traveled
throughout the world ministering to thousands of pastors and intercessors from
many backgrounds. Francis' heartfelt prayer is to see established in every
city, Christlike pastors and intercessors, united before God, revealing the
love of Christ to their communities.
Over the
past decades, Francis has served on a number of other ministry boards. However,
in recent years he has gradually resigned from these various boards. As of June
2009, he has also retired from his position as senior pastor of River of Life
Ministries. In this more simplified life, Frangipane is devoting himself to
prayer and the ministry of God's word.
No comments:
Post a Comment