In many places . . .
Christianity rests in a similar state to
the synagogues of Jesus' time.

Pharisees of Jesus' day
so held to tradition that they missed
the Object of the tradition;
so held to the "ways of God"
and the "principles of God' that
they missed God . . . Himself.

The leaders had the forms of religion.
They had followers of their ways.
They had real memories of God -
a rich past record. 

But God Himself was
not invited and,
not present.

John 16:3
" . . . they have not known the Father, or Me."

Jesus had to say,

John 14:7
If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also;

We possess the Love of God, yet . . .
we are more focused on
amassing prophetic information,
and accumulating spiritual education
than in knowing the majesty of Emmanuel,
the supreme Object of it all. 

So the coming of the Lord Jesus
was a disturbance,
not a recognition.

We are in danger of being so besotted with
the "principles of God" and
the knowledge of the Trinity,
that we miss the Supreme Object . . .
Himself!

We are so focused on
amassing prophetic information,
and accumulating spiritual education,
that we behold the One
we inspect only as a titillating subject. 

We consider the holy height to be:
"what I have achieved,
who I know,
what are my great prophecies,
where I have gone, and
how large my ministry is." 

This life is a WHO you know and
the WHO is Christ.
All activity, TOWARD knowing Him
and all motion coming FROM knowing Him.

This is how . . . to Love Him.

Even those who serve Him truly
become lost under the pile of service.
Humanity's need swallows their own need
of a vital touch by Jesus, and a central link
to Christ of their lost purpose.

The life is a waste which does not
reveal Christ to the world.

And a day is a loss that
does not hear from Jesus
or reach to Him
or long for Him or . . . SEE Him.

1 Cor. 8:2, 3 Amplified
If anyone imagines that he has come to
know and understand much
(of divine things, without love),
he does not yet perceive and recognize and
understand as strongly and clearly,
nor has he become as intimately acquainted
with anything as he ought or as is necessary.

But if one loves God truly   
(with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience,
and grateful recognition of His blessing),
he is known by God
(recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love,
         and he is owned by Him).

The question is not how much I know about God,
but this: Does God know me?
Am I "known by God" . . . and
do I know that He knows me?

To be "known by Him" -
that is the grand dream of
Christ's follower . . . to have His ear,
capture His voice,
hold His gaze!
And encounter His pleasure. 

This life of the believer is
WHO you know and
there is only one important WHO.

All activity is to be TOWARD knowing Him.
And all action coming FROM knowing Him.

The danger of falling increases,
the higher you go.

And the danger of missing God,
is in the place of predicting Him.

Copyright © 2004 Martha Kilpatrick