God Pause for Thursday, 11/6/2014
/Luther Seminary God Pause
Thursday, 11/6/2014 Reading: Matthew 25:1-13
Wouldn't you like to know the mind and thoughts of God? What wouldn't we give to know what God knows and to see as God sees! I think about this whenever I hear Jesus' teaching about the kingdom of heaven. In essence, Jesus shows his followers God's concept for how life might look like here on earth.
In Matthew 25, we learn some things about God's kingdom as it takes shape in our time of waiting for Jesus' return. The first glimpse we catch is that God's timing remains a mystery to us. Nobody knows the exact time when the bridegroom will appear to gather his followers in celebration. The second is more troubling, when we note that some are let in to the wedding banquet while others are rejected because they are unprepared. We're left to wonder what kind of God is this who seems to exclude some from the festivities.
Still we may find comfort in Jesus' teaching that anyone can be ready by doing the obvious, by being prepared and ready, with "oil in our lamps" when the bridegroom comes.
Gracious Father, help us do that which we already know how to do in preparing for your Son's return. Amen.>
Keith Anderson Pastor, First Lutheran Church Ketchikan, Ala. Master of Divinity, 1989
Matthew 25:1-13 (NRSV)
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, "Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, "No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, "Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
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