Matthew 25:6 “But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is The Bridegroom. Come out to meet HIM!”
Distinguishing Lights!
As HIS mirrors sent into Life’s shadows; drawn to The LIGHT for reflection each hour,
…then why we are called to not tolerate sin is so greatest we’ll shine by HIS power.
Now remove every shade and each obstacle carried! Discard anything not transparent!
For your cross must be carried without any credit applied to your steps when they’re errant.
So strive to make certain — as cross bearing members — that CHRIST’s Light appears unobstructed!
For HE must receive every honor and praise without our displays found — corrupted.
As HIS mirrors thus sent to Life’s shadows; redrawn to The LIGHT for Delivery’s expression
…may we choose to remain, both by night and each day, IN HIS FIRES till best we reflect HIM!
As HIServant eager to burn off all dross and shadowy substance of flesh,
Whitney
Devotional: Luke 11:34-36 “Your eye is the lamp of your body.
When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.
35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness!
36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
My lovely wife, Sherry, shared this great point with me early this morning…just a few hours ago.
We all know the parable of the 10 virgins with 5 having oil and 5 having run out of oil.
Now all fell asleep. Then in Matthew 25:6 we read, “But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the Bridegroom! Come out to meet HIM.”
So they all wake up and trim their lamps. Now trimming a beard or a wick requires cutting.
To have the lamp burn brightest and best, the most efficient way to achieve this is to cut down the mostly consumed part of the wick.
As such, the foolish now recognize that their own lamps are going out.
The wise might have as well but! They brought oil. Meaning…
They invested, even sacrificed, their time to be prepared.
They gathered knowledge, sought Wisdom and carefully carried and pondered such spiritual oil in their heart flasks.
Obviously the foolish had not done this assigned task while they had the daylight.
So the irony is that ONLY in the extremes of pending darkness — knowing their lamps will die out — ONLY then do they demand the bare minimum.
Which is: Faith’s “cliff notes” summary from the wise.
But the wise know such saving understanding AND application to one’s life…takes time!
Hence they essentially say, “ Go pay the price of Faith and get oil. Then come back.”
Please hear me!
We must share our faith at all times but! In that “twinkling of an eye” instant…when we’re INSTANTLY called up…
…there’s NO time left for either the foolish OR the wise to engage in witnessing efforts.
That’s why we must be daily and diligently gathering oil from HIS WORD and studying…
…to show ourselves approved unto GOD as servants who do not need to be ashamed!
2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show yourself approved unto GOD, a servant that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the WORD of Truth.”
Now here’s the point Sherry showed me which I find to be a great revelation.
The foolish knew they were low on oil. They KNEW deep within they hadn’t studied about nor sacrificed their time for the Bridegroom.
Then ONLY at the last second, they partly grasp that their lights are already dim due to their lack of zeal and indifference.
So here’s the crux of the matter! VIP!
They didn’t discern or care that their spiritual light was actually quite indistinguishable from the world’s darkness!
Please reread that last sentence!
So when the call of the Bridegroom reached everyone’s ears, these foolish knew all to well that they were far too low on oil to go out to meet the Bridegroom.
In the darkness, without the reflection of HIS Light within them, they instead found Rejection…
…because they’d ignored the daily drawing of the LORD to be humble and contrite as those who tremble at HIS WORD!
Isaiah 66:2 “For all these things are MINE, saith the LORD: and to whom will I have respect, but to the humble and meek, and those that tremble at MY words?“
So! In the time remaining…even now!
Live as GOD’s wholly reflective and fully distinguishing lights!
Therefore! Always seek the LORD with all zeal and diligence.
Yes, by committed reflection, be the very best Cross bearing Lights to lead others to HIM. Amen?
Therefore!
Let us choose to remain, both by night and each day, IN HIS FIRES till best we reflect HIM!
Amen and amen!
2CJC 