25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Dominic Kan
Mission Community – Portland OR
Observation: (v10 & 13) Father, You’re reminding me to live with expectancy and singleness of purpose – to live into the reality of life in the Kingdom with You now. That’s how to live ready for the return of my Savior, Jesus, always.
Action: Today, I am going to submit my ‘to-do’ list to Jesus. Instead of filling my day with things based on the expectations of the world or of others, I’m going to ask Jesus what He wants me to do, and how He wants me to spend my time.
Observation: Jesus gives a word about being ready. But He does not give it so we can evaluate (and criticize) the readiness of others . He gives it so we can be committed to being ready ourselves.
Action: Lord Jesus, I see Your call to readiness, and I know You have appointed me to encourage others to be ready. But I also know that I need to be ready myself and that in encouraging others I sometimes overlook myself. I commit myself to being ready by listening to and obeying You.
Observation: “The wise ones took oil along with their lamps.” Sharon-be ready each and every day, don’t get distracted by the “shiny” things or the cares of this world.
Action: Bring extra oil-the oil of God’s grace, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, love, patience, joy, peace, focus, purpose and more love.
Awesome!
As I listen to You speak of being ready for Your arrival I reflect through three lenses preparing for Palm Sunday: 1) THE KING IS WORTHY “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” 2) THE KING WEEPS “as Jesus came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, He began to weep. ‘How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace” 3) THE KING WANTS GOOD ” Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you” Asking the Question – where are am I still impressed and still building on old stones?
Observation: God doesn’t care who we are, as long as we’ve got oil in our lamps.
Action: Today, I’m going to rest, abide, and store up oil for my lamp for the coming week.
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning….