Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. —Hebrews 4:14-16
When you appear before us and all has been made known, shall we approach your glory and kneel before your throne? So now while you are hidden we still seek out your face; we know you welcome sinners there at the seat of grace.
No kings sit at your right hand, no princes at your left: The throng who in your sight stand were servants of the rest. And you, O Lord, uphold them— so we would be upheld. Until we can behold you, grant us your timely help!
To love you in our service, and love our neighbor, too, to know the gift of mercy— and always to know you. So we bring all our weakness, our sorrow, and our sin and seek our great high priest here: O, bid us enter in!
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” —Mark 10:17-27
How hard it is to enter in God's kingdom: Sell all you have and bid your world goodbye. So camels thread the slim eye of the needle before the rich can claim a place on high. But heaven calls, and only this is needful: to give your all and follow after Christ.
What is the price your savior now is asking? You gold and gems, your lavish gifts displayed? No, but your heart poured out in prayer and action: This is the gift your offer day by day. Not faith alone or keeping each commandment, but love itself: This is the narrow way.
For gold will dim, and silver coins will tarnish. All swords will rust except God's holy word— a living edge that parts the joints and marrow to lay us bare before the eye of God. So whittled down, we pass with room to spare then: The needle grows; the narrow gate is broad.
And all we've lost, and all we've gladly given shall be restored in Spirit and in truth. All we forgave as we have been forgiven— that mercy shown our own hearts will renew, will heal our eyes that we may share the vision of God's great love, while Christ makes all things new.
About The Rich, O discontented mancan ever be rich. The golden calfnever grows into acow that gives milk. The devil comes to the wedding when•-;ople marry for money. God has never made gold enough tomake a selfish man rich. On Gods scales a poor mans best and« rich mans best balance each other. Some people will sell their souls verycheap for the prospect of quick payment. Success in this world often means fail-ure in the next. What do you suppose angels think ofthe man who is doing his best to die rich? We are not in a condition to enjoyriches until we can be happy withoutthem. They know in heaven how much relig-ion the rich have by the way they treatthe poor. It is seldom that a man ever gets to bewise enough to know what to do with alarge fortune- IBy Frank Beard – https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14597788930/Source book page: https://archive.org/stream/blastsfromramsho00unse/blastsfromramsho00unse#page/n19/mode/1up, No restrictions, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44080771
Keeping your commandments,
following your word,
yet I still am lacking,
longing in my thirst.
Tell me then, good Teacher,
what I still must do.
In my heav'nward reaching,
how do I reach you?
Sell what still I covet?
Give away my wealth?
Easier to cast off,
oh, my very self.
What am I without it?
Nothing but a name,
all my faults unshrouded,
open to my shame.
Yet you call me forward
where I dare not go.
Shall I die a coward,
buried in my gold?
Call me still, O Savior;
call, and come to me.
Show me by your gazes
what I still could be.
One thing still is needed,
one thing I must do:
Lead me through the needle
I must still go through.
Not by my own power—
that will ne'er suffice.
Come, Lord, in my hour:
Take me through the eye.
When I cannot see the morning,
night extinguishes my flame,
as you pass me on your journey,
give me faith to call your name.
When the joyous crowd acclaims you,
drowning out my feeble cry,
give me still the voice to claim you
while you yet are passing by.
Let me call you by your father:
Son of David, pity me!
In our flesh we are as brothers:
Mercy, Lord; I want to see!
When your silence echoes in me,
give me faith that calls the more.
Rich derision though it win me,
I will shout 'til I am hoarse:
Son of David, oh, have mercy
on a son of man and mud!
Fill me 'til your name comes bursting
from the wrack of flesh and blood.
This shall be my burning vision,
light within my deepest night.
This must be my hope and mission
'til at last you give me sight.
De genezing van de blinde te Jericho door de Meester van de Inzameling van het Manna, circa 1470. By Master of the Gathering of the Manna – catharijneverhalen.nl, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30045442
I cannot drink the cup you drink
or in your river be baptized
where in its current I would sink,
and how then could I ever rise?
I cannot sit at your right hand
or rule in glory at your side.
My seat must ever empty stand
while in the shadows still I hide.
But for the ones who dwell in shade
you came to bring the light of dawn;
into the kingdom you have made
you call me yet to journey on
where you hold possibilities
beyond the limits of my grasp.
All my impossibilities
are nothing in your mercy's clasp,
and all my weakness is as naught
where camels pass through needles' eyes:
The cup you pour shall drown my drought,
and from your river I shall rise.
Then draw me on into your light
to stand beside your royal throne
or take my seat, not by my might,
but only by your strength alone.
Mosaic in the Baptistry of San Giovanni of Florence, ca. 1300, by the Florentine Master By Florentinischer Meister um 1300 – The Yorck Project (2002) 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (DVD-ROM), distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. ISBN: 3936122202., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150949
Good teacher, I have kept the law,
been faithful from my youth:
Shall I then enter heaven's doors
and dwell in endless truth?
Or is there something lacking yet,
some law left unfulfilled,
some measure that I have not met
in all that God has willed?
I honor all my kith and kin;
unstintingly I tithe,
but shall I ever enter in
and have eternal life?
I see no loathing in your eyes,
no judgment on your part—
No, but I feel the answ'ring fires
that kindle in my heart.
Have I been missing, all these years,
what God would have me do?
I met the standard of my fears,
but never yet met you.
Then call me on to something else—
my strength cannot avail—
and draw me closer to yourself,
though all my steps may fail.
And though I stumble on the way
as I had not before,
yet, Teacher, call me still, I pray
to seek you ever more.
Kate Bluett 