Sunday, October 14, 2012

The Eye Of The Needle

Sometimes I don't need to write too much.  I just present to you what I hear, what I learn, and what little I know.  What I know today comes from the book of Mark.

"17 He was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, 'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'

18 Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

19 You know the commandments: You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.'

20 And he said to him, 'Master, I have kept all these since my earliest days.'

21 Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him, and he said, 'You need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.'

22 But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

23 Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'

24 The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, 'My children,' he said to them, 'how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of God.'

26 They were more astonished than ever, saying to one another, 'In that case, who can be saved?'

27 Jesus gazed at them and said, 'By human resources it is impossible, but not for God: because for God everything is possible.'

28 Peter took this up. 'Look,' he said to him, 'we have left everything and followed you.'

29 Jesus said, 'In truth I tell you, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel

30 who will not receive a hundred times as much, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land -- and persecutions too -- now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.

31 Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'

My question today is, what one thing do I have too much of?  What one thing must I give up to have complete devotion.

And the big question, does America have too much?  Are we like the young man?

Have a great and wonderful day!

Ed Winkle



2 comments:

  1. Hi, Ed,
    lam Ronaldo, From Brazil,
    and let me tell you one thing,
    Ed, Americans do not have much. Have you guys because you guys work hard. Americans help many countries,, through various programs, I am very grateful to the Americans, I have my training and experience because I participated twice in agriculture programs in hawaii, and ohio, iowa, so the United States is a nation far good, and to finish, I mean, yes you are worthy to follow Jesus because you have love in your heart, you see his neighbor with the heart not only with his eyes,
    I wish you a very successful week.

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  2. Thank you, Ronaldo! We are very blessed in this country and yes I think our nation has tried to bring peace by helping any country that wants to become a democracy. It has cost our nation lots of money and too many lives but that is who we are. Thanks for reminding me.

    I think we can do a better job by living simpler lives and helping even more. Greed easily ruins a society like ours and we see it everywhere and we complain. It is best to lead by example.

    I hope to get more crops out this week and more cover crops planted. I thank you for your good wishes.

    A special prayer request tonight for my dear friend Dutch in Texas who lost his oldest son this weekend. Dutch is a great American who came here from Holland as a young man.

    I can't fathom losing a child and thank the Lord I have not had to suffer that. I pray for all who have.

    Ed

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