NT25 FASTSample

Day 3: Matthew 21-Mark 2

Emily Langford, Levite + Marketing Manager at UPPERROOM

Today’s reading is packed with many significant and catalytic portions of scripture that reveal Jesus and His kingdom, some key ones including:

• The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21)
• The cleansing of the temple (Matthew 21)
• Many parables
• Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 26-28)
• John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1)
• Jesus in the wilderness and the beginning of His ministry (Mark 1)
• Jesus gives His disciples the Great Commission (Matthew 28)

There is a lot to be said about these events and their application, but I want to zoom in on Matthew 25:1-13, a parable of ten virgins awaiting the arrival of their bridegroom. Did you know you are Christ’s Bride and also awaiting the arrival of your Bridegroom King?

Through the years, a common text for me to receive from my dad, especially once I began working in vocational ministry is... “Is your wick trimmed? Do you have oil? You can’t have mine!”

What was he really asking me? Two things:

Is the unnecessary trimmed off your life?

Unforgiveness, busyness, self obsession, greed, selfish ambition, gossip, mixture, lukewarmness, apathy, indifference, etc. Just as a trimmed candlewick prevents the buildup of wax, the wicks of our heart being trimmed means allowing God to trim off anything that would prevent us from burning. A trimmed wick provides favorable conditions for a lamp to burn.

Do you have oil? Do you really know Him?

The oil of intimacy is not found on platforms, in performance, or from the plaudits of man. You cannot receive it from a pastor or have it imparted to you by an itinerant minister. It has nothing to do with church attendance, good works, the amount of time spent in the prayer room, podcasts listened to, sermons preached, or the number of souls you’ve seen saved.

Oil cannot be transferred, imparted, borrowed, or taught. The oil of intimacy is about real relationship and is only found in secret with Jesus. It’s not about knowing ministry or knowing church. It’s not about a secondhand revelation of Jesus. It’s not about getting to know Him in public places, it’s about knowing him intimately and privately — away from others.

With great sobriety today, I remember that not even the Son knows the day or the hour of His own return! The days of casually and indifferently approaching God must be over. Playing church must be over. We can’t expect to know Him if we’ve reduced Him to an extracurricular activity or insurance policy we pull out in crisis.

It’s time to know Him. Really, really know Him. What He loves. What He hates. What His eyes look like. We need the fear of the Lord again around His presence and glory. We need to ache to meet with Him in secret far more than we do in public places.

We must not be foolish, but wise. We need trimmed wicks and we need oil.