Matthew 25:1-13
Be still: Lord, keep me alert to receive from your living Word. Amen
Read: Matthew 25:1-13
At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ (v6)
Encounter: All ten bridesmaids start on equal ground: they've all been invited to the wedding and given an important purpose; they've each got a lamp to greet the bridegroom; they all get tired with the long wait, and all get drowsy and fall asleep...to be awoken by the cry: 'He's here! Come and meet him.
And that's when, for half of them, it falls apart!
During the 'foolish' girls' sleep, their lamps have used up the oil and, unlike the 'wise' girls, they haven't any reserves. And the 'wise' can't supply the 'foolish' as their lamps will go out too.
Two thoughts in particular have struck me about this parable.
First: while the wise girls can share their light, they can't share the oil.
Oil throughout Scripture is often symbolic of the Holy Spirit anointing, empowering, and commissioning believers. While you and I can, and hopefully do, share the light of Jesus with those around us, we cannot give them the Holy Spirit. Each individual must open personally to him to receive.
Second: all ten fall asleep while waiting.
Many of us aren't good at waiting. If a wait seems too long, we may give up. Waiting ten minutes for a bus seems forever.
And waiting for Jesus to return? Lord, it's more than 2000 years already - that's a long wait.
' But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.' (1Peter 2:8)
So, God-time, say 2 days since Jesus left this earth!
Forget the counting, God-time is not our time! 1 Peter 2:9 goes on to explain God is not slow, he is patient. His unfolding plan is for the gospel to reach everyone, for everyone to have the opportunity to receive the Spirit of Life, Jesus.
Apply: Do you ask every morning for the Holy Spirit to fill you again? If not, will you?
Devote: Holy Spirit, give me oil in my lamp, keep me.... passionate,
praising, loving, serving - until you return.