November 12, 2023

Today's Reading: Matthew 25:1-13

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 27:1-26, Matthew 17:14-27

The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.”  (Matthew 25:8)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Some read this parable and say “Do you have enough oil?”  Or in other words, “Do you have enough faith?” That’s the question so many want to ask today in Christianity. No way, that is not how Christianity works. Faith is a gift, given wholly and freely to you by God the Holy Spirit! You did not choose this, rather Christ has chosen you! And your faith is always kept for you by God!  God in his unconditional love goes to great lengths to protect our faith. Faith can die, we can walk away. 

However Jesus’ desire, His plan, is to keep our lamps filled with oil so we can rejoice when He, the Bridegroom, arrives. He gives us lamps. He lights our lamps. He fills our lamps with oil. He keeps our lamps full of oil. How does He do this? Our lamps are filled with Christ through His Word. We need the oil that Holy Scripture can bring. In hearing the Word, in preaching and teaching, oil is poured into our lamps so that we are prepared for whatever may come our way. At the font Christ filled you by washing you clean and warding off the attacks of Satan. At this Holy Table, where Christ enters your body and soul to forgive your sin, strengthen your faith in this difficult, fallen world.  You are given faith, you are in Christ, you are His beloved who is seated at the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Zion hears the watchmen singing,  And all her heart with joy is springing; She wakes, she rises from her gloom. For her Lord comes down all-glorious, The strong in grace, in truth victorious;  Her star is ris'n, her light is come.  Now come, Thou Blessed One,  Lord Jesus, God's own Son,  Hail! Hosanna! We enter all  The wedding hall To eat the Supper at Thy call.  (LSB 516:2)

- Pastor Kent Schaaf is pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Little Rock. AR.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.