Scripture

At midnight the cry rang out: “Here is the bridegroom. Come out to meet him.”

Observation
Jesus tells a parable about being ready to meet Him.

Ten young women are waiting for a bridegroom. Five have brought spare oil for their lamps, but five have no oil. The bridegroom is late arriving and when he finally does arrive, the five foolish girls have to go and obtain oil for their lamps.

The bridegroom comes while the unprepared girls are absent. The wise girls accompany the bridegroom into the banquet but the others are locked out.

Application
The foolish girls in this story failed to provide for themselves what was needed in order to serve the bridegroom.

We must all make sure that our own relationship with God is right. Oil speaks of the Holy Spirit, light of the revelation of the gospel.

Nobody can rely on the faith of another person whether it be a parent, a spouse, a pastor or some other person. We all need our own relationship with the Lord, now before He comes.

Prayer
Father I pray for those who do not know you. May they have a revelation of your love and come into their own relationship with you. Amen.

Scripture

“The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Observation
Jesus tells his followers that the Pharisees and teachers of the Law are the interpreters of the Law so it is right to obey their teaching. However they are hypocrites whose example must not be followed.

The teachers love attention and adulation. They love the titles of honour.

Followers of Jesus must not chase titles and positions. Rather Christian leaders must firstly be servants. Everyone who raises themselves up will be pulled down, but those who humble themselves will be lifted up.

Application
I noted just last night how nobody in our church calls me “Pastor.” The closest we get to a title is the kids who call me “Mr Keith.”

The fact is that nobody is any more exalted than anybody else in God’s Kingdom. Sure some have leadership roles, but that does not make them any more important than the people struggling to keep their life together.

To build true community means that we all have to be in it together. Nobody gets to be the boss, at least not in the sense of making burdens for other people to carry. A true leader listens to everyone’s opinion and then sets the direction.

We share the mission. We share the burdens. We share the decisions.

Prayer
Thank you Father for the gift of community, a body of followers of Jesus who commit to love you and each other. Please help those of us charged with leadership to always stay humble and focussed on serving you. Amen.

Scripture

No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Observation

The Pharisees ask Jesus what is the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus replies that there are two- love God and love your neighbour. Everything else depends on these two.

Jesus then asks them a loaded question: Whose son is the Christ? They answer “The son of David.” But Jesus then says, “How is that David calls him ‘Lord’?”

They could not answer this, and no one dared to ask Jesus any more trick questions from that day.

Application

You can’t fight God. It should be obvious, but many struggle against Him all their life.

The wisdom of the Lord is breath-taking. Every time people tried to pull Jesus down with clever words, He would spin it back at them.

If we follow Jesus and submit ourselves to His ways we will have the wisdom of the Creator on our side. If we resist Jesus we resist life by resisting God.

The choice is obvious.

Prayer

Father I praise you for your great wisdom. You know how our lives best work. Please help me to listen to you in everything I do. Amen.