Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in
this alone: that they truly know Me and understand that I am the Lord.
(Jeremiah 9:23,24 NLT)
Why does not the Lord do this and that, which we think He ought to do? It is
simply this soul-craving to have proof and demonstration; and this is why, if
there is anything built up in Christian work which is obvious, big, impressive,
where there is a great thing being organized and a great movement on foot and
all is in the realm of something that can be seen, crowds of Christians flock
after it; or if there are manifestations, things that seem to be clear proofs,
the crowds will be found there. The enemy can carry away multitudes by imitation
works of the Holy Ghost in the realm of demonstrations and proofs. We are so
impressionable, we must possess; and
that is exactly the same principle as that which governed the rulers. They were
not prepared for the principle of the Cross to be applied in this way – an utter
self-emptying, being brought to an end of everything but the Lord Himself....
What was the one thing the prophets were always talking about? It was about knowing
the Lord. The thing that was lacking amongst the Lord's people in the days
of the prophets was the knowledge of the Lord. There were plenty of people who
were prepared to have the Lord for what He could do for them, but as for the
Lord Himself... ah, that was another matter. What is the Lord after with you and
with me? Is He first of all wanting us to do things? The idea of what is of God
today is chiefly associated with the things which are being done for Him, the
work we are engaged in, and so on – that is, with what is objective and outward.
But the Lord is not first of all concerned about how much we do. He is far more
concerned that, whether we do little or much, every bit of it should come out of
a knowledge of Himself. Any amount can be done for the Lord in Christian work
and activities, just as you do other work, but it may not proceed from your own
deep knowledge of God. The Lord is concerned above all else that we should know
Him.