Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 7 November 2014 "Loving our Lord"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 7 November 2014 "Loving our Lord"
Daily Scripture:  Matthew 25: The Story of the Virgins
1-5 “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.
6 “In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’
7-8 “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.’
9 “They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’
10 “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.
11 “Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’
12 “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’
Reflection Questions:
Jesus told a story, set in a multi-day Hebrew wedding, about ten bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom (Jesus) to arrive. Five of them brought extra lamp oil, were ready even though he arrived late, and went into the wedding. Five others were unprepared. But they weren't just missing oil—they'd missed a relationship. When they got back, the bridegroom hauntingly told the unprepared bridesmaids, "I don't know you."
What spiritual lesson(s) can you learn from looking at the difference between the "wise" and the "foolish" characters in this story? With which group do you identify more? In what ways, day by day, are you deepening your personal bond with Jesus so that you know him, and he knows you?
Jesus' parable clearly showed that we cannot borrow some things, particularly relationships. Have you ever wished you could "borrow" the connection your pious grandmother or your preacher has with God? Doesn't work. God wants a love relationship with you, and you only build that by relating to God yourself. In what ways, if any, are you trying to "ride someone else's coattails" to God? How can you take ownership of that relationship for yourself?
Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting me to be a part of your "wedding feast." Help me to value that privilege highly, and to stay connected with you every day. Amen.
Insight from Mike Wilhoit
Mike Wilhoit serves at The Church of the Resurrection as Local Missions Director.
Mercy triumphs over judgment in the Kingdom of God. I tasted the fruit of this truth in the life of a mentor.
My mentor and I still meet weekly for coffee to encourage one another in our efforts to walk in the way of Jesus. Soon after we began meeting, my friend lost his job due to the false allegations of employees he managed, despite a track record of meeting performance objectives and strong evaluations. As the sole bread winner for his wife & children, he was angry & remained so for months.
Then, one day, I noticed a lightness in his tone when I asked how he was doing. He explained that he had started praying for his former co-workers and sending them anonymous gifts because of the unmerited mercy Christ had freely given him.
I’m not sure how my buddy’s co-workers ever fared, but I do know this. My mentor began growing again and moved forward with a new lightness, ready to meet his accusers with kindness should the occasion ever arise. Mercy definitely triumphed over judgment in the heart of my good friend.
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