Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
More Than Enough Oil?
Pastor Scott
Saturday, August 14, 2004
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"They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:"
(Matthew 25:3)
"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins..." (Matt. 25:1). They are all virgins, implying that they are not partakers of the world. They are people that are living lives of observable purity. These ten virgins all went forth to meet the bridegroom, but five were wise and five were foolish. Who were these foolish ones? They were virgins about the Father's business. They went to meet the bridegroom. What made them foolish? They didn't have enough oil to finish. They didn't realize the need for patience, consistency and daily preparation. It is not what you did yesterday; it is what you are doing when He returns. If you are not continuously replenishing yourself, you will be empty when He comes; you won't be ready.
What are you doing to build the family unit and your relationship in the community of believers? What are you doing to better prepare your heart for the coming of Jesus and establish eternal treasures? To be a master in this area, you have to be temperate in all others. What is your treasure? What do you spend the most time in? What are you preoccupied with? What are you trying to be a master of?
What made the wise, wise and the foolish, foolish? "They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them" (25:3). They all were virgins, took their lamps, and went to meet the bridegroom. One thing made them foolish: they didn't have sufficient oil. How full you are today determines which category you are in. Do you have more than enough Holy Ghost? That is what it means to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. From a perspective of grace, we teach and believe that it is harder to backslide and lose our salvation than many Armenians teach, but we do believe it is possible. Jesus taught it in this parable. You don't have to be a theologian to realize that these people were virgins, they were obedient, they had lamps--and they were lost. You can do everything right but not finish correctly and be lost. Are you ready? Are you living for His glory? Are you doing what you think is enough or are you doing more than enough? Don't take any chances. Keep your vessels and your lamps full and you will be ready.
The oil that is spoken of is the presence and person of the Holy Spirit. Are you full of the anointing of God? Are you seeking daily the fullness of the Spirit to prepare yourself to be a faithful servant to the bridegroom? Are you strengthening yourself that you might serve Him better? It is not about you; you are strong to serve Him. You are just an unprofitable servant; it is about Jesus being exalted.
Our theology is correct, but we need more of You, Lord. I want more of You, but that is not enough; I need to take more of You. It is all available; everything that pertains to life and godliness is readily accessible. It is not enough to want it. We shall take sufficient power necessary to glorify God after the Holy Ghost has come upon us. We will be witnesses unto You. We say we want more. Then why don't we take it? The five foolish knew exactly where to get the oil. They went and got it when it became important to them, but it became important too late. You know where to get the oil. Put the worth on it today. Be ready today. Hear "well done" today that He might be your all-in-all. Make us worthy servants, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.