Matthew 25:1-13
“God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.
“In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’
“The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’
“They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’
“They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.
“Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’
“He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’
“So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I went to Walmart this afternoon after I finished helping with Timothy’s class at school. I know…Friday afternoon at Walmart = BAD IDEA! But it was especially chaotic today, and I chalked it up to the fact that there are only 9 days left until Christmas. Maybe people had decided, as had I, that along with our milk and bread, it would be a good idea to go ahead and pick up a few things for the holiday meal…last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers…and anything else we might need in the next week. Hopefully, this would save us a return trip…or at least some of the hassle of a lengthy shopping trip.
When I entered the store, it was a miserable 37 degrees outside - with a pretty good wind. When I left, there was also a fine mist in the air. I didn’t know until I got home that freezing drizzle is just north of us in neighboring counties! Let me tell you, nothing will send people to Walmart faster than a little precipitation and near-freezing temps or the mention of ice and/or snow in the forecast – and we have both!
Isn’t it funny that we are all about going to the store and getting milk and bread if we think there is even the slightest chance of frozen precipitation…but we are more than willing to play fast and loose with our Christian faith! We’ll stockpile food, movies, and everything we need to be “snowed in” for a few days…but we won’t store up the things that draw us closer to God and prepare us for a face-to-face meeting with Jesus. We’ve got all manner of time and energy to drop everything and gather our supplies for a “snowstorm”…but we don’t have time to open our Bibles or talk to God about anything and everything – much less share the Good News of Jesus with someone else.
We don’t have time to help a neighbor…stop and truly ask someone how he/she is doing – and stick around to hear the answer…or offer another person kindness and care. We are too busy with WHATEVER to do the things that Jesus clearly says in scripture will make the difference for God’s Kingdom. We may not know the hour of Jesus’ return, but we are in no hurry to “stock up on milk and bread” so that we are prepared.
Christmas IS coming in nine days…and most of us will be ready – for Santa, celebrations, and packages under the tree. But will we be ready for Jesus? Will we have “bought enough oil, milk and bread” and made provisions to ensure that we are not left “standing out in the cold?” Don’t you think it’s time we did?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.
“In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’
“The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’
“They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’
“They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.
“Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’
“He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’
“So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I went to Walmart this afternoon after I finished helping with Timothy’s class at school. I know…Friday afternoon at Walmart = BAD IDEA! But it was especially chaotic today, and I chalked it up to the fact that there are only 9 days left until Christmas. Maybe people had decided, as had I, that along with our milk and bread, it would be a good idea to go ahead and pick up a few things for the holiday meal…last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers…and anything else we might need in the next week. Hopefully, this would save us a return trip…or at least some of the hassle of a lengthy shopping trip.
When I entered the store, it was a miserable 37 degrees outside - with a pretty good wind. When I left, there was also a fine mist in the air. I didn’t know until I got home that freezing drizzle is just north of us in neighboring counties! Let me tell you, nothing will send people to Walmart faster than a little precipitation and near-freezing temps or the mention of ice and/or snow in the forecast – and we have both!
Isn’t it funny that we are all about going to the store and getting milk and bread if we think there is even the slightest chance of frozen precipitation…but we are more than willing to play fast and loose with our Christian faith! We’ll stockpile food, movies, and everything we need to be “snowed in” for a few days…but we won’t store up the things that draw us closer to God and prepare us for a face-to-face meeting with Jesus. We’ve got all manner of time and energy to drop everything and gather our supplies for a “snowstorm”…but we don’t have time to open our Bibles or talk to God about anything and everything – much less share the Good News of Jesus with someone else.
We don’t have time to help a neighbor…stop and truly ask someone how he/she is doing – and stick around to hear the answer…or offer another person kindness and care. We are too busy with WHATEVER to do the things that Jesus clearly says in scripture will make the difference for God’s Kingdom. We may not know the hour of Jesus’ return, but we are in no hurry to “stock up on milk and bread” so that we are prepared.
Christmas IS coming in nine days…and most of us will be ready – for Santa, celebrations, and packages under the tree. But will we be ready for Jesus? Will we have “bought enough oil, milk and bread” and made provisions to ensure that we are not left “standing out in the cold?” Don’t you think it’s time we did?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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