Scripture Scribbles: November 12, 2023

the Gospel

Mathew 25:1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise ones replied,
'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
But he said in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour."

the devotion

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how I show up in my life.

To my family.
To my friends.
To my community.
To myself.

Am I rushed? Stressed? Anxious?
Am I trying to complete 5 tasks all at once?
Am I really listening to the person in front of me, or am I running through my to-list in my head?

My Word of the Year this year has been present.

I’ve felt the Lord for a while now asking me to slow down. Take stock of what you’re doing, where you’re going, who you’re with. Allow yourself to feel deep joy. Allow yourself to rest. Allow yourself to waste some time with those you love, simply just being, and not always doing.

It has been extremely challenging for me, to say the least. While I’ve often failed to slow down and receive, it has forced me to at least become aware of the rushed state of being I have been operating in for a long time.

In today’s Gospel, we hear about the virgins with the lamps.
The wise ones, we’re told, are those who bring not only their lamp but flasks of oil.

As I pray with the Gospel today, the Holy Spirit draws my heart to two major themes:

First, I sense a sort of peace about the wise ones.

I imagine that they feel calm, secure, and confident about who they are in the Lord.
The coming of the Lord does not take them by surprise, because it is already where they dwell.
Their hearts and minds are with the Lord, secure in His love, always.
So upon His arrival, they are already set with everything they need.
Bringing the flasks of oil along with them was not so much an extra chore to think about, or another thing to add to their to-do list, it simply was already part of their overabundant life with the Lord.
They did not need to strive or be concerned about whether they would make it, because He had already provided what they needed.

Second, I sense a sort of panic about the foolish ones.

I imagine they feel rushed, pressured, possibly even guilted into bringing their lamp along to meet the Lord.
They had not thought to bring the oil, because they were striving on their own strength to make it all happen in their ability, within their plans, on their schedule.
When the time of His arrival comes, panic sets in.
Rather than trusting in the Lord to provide, they ask the others to provide what they inevitably cannot on their own.

When we feel rushed, pressured, or guilted into doing something, we always come up short.
When we rely on God’s provision and trust in His ability to provide, we always receive an overabundance.

Today, I invite you to slow down.

Open your heart and your mind to the Lord. Tell Him you trust that He is already providing everything you need. If you need oil, trust that He will be the one to give it to you.

Keep your eyes on Him, even in the midst of your storms.

When we abide in Him, we are at peace.
We are stocked with an overabundance of oil for the journey.

In peace I lie down and sleep,
For in you alone, LORD,
I am secure.

Psalm 4:8

Today’s devotion is written by Rachel Smith