An elder in our congregation spoke recently on the parable of the ten virgins. I am familiar with the parable so I thought it would be nothing new but he highlighted something I have never noticed before.
I've always noticed the difference between the wise and foolish virgins but I missed what was the same.
Can you guess?
They were all asleep.
Matthew 25:1-13 NIV
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."
In this time and place, could it be that we are asleep? If so, it doesn't sound like a bad thing as long as we're ready.
What are the jars of oil?... What is the lamp?... How is it filled?... And what is trimmed away?...
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
True forgiveness
Why didn't Jonah want to go to Nineveh?
I always thought he was scared or lazy but the real reason was because he didn't want God to forgive the Ninevites.
Jonah 3:6-10 NIV
When Jonah's warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.
This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
"By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
So at this point you 'd think Jonah would be happy. He preached the word the people listened and repented and God showed grace and compasssion.
Nope. Jonah became angry.
Wait... What?
Sure, take a look...
Jonah 4:1-3 NIV
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord , "Isn't this what I said, Lord , when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord , take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
I've often introspected how I forgive. If someone does me wrong. there is a temptation to hold a grudge. To get back at that person but instead I forgive and smile a little bit when I think "Vengeance is mine, I (God) will repay" and then I am able to move on and turn that person over to the vengeance of God.
Kind of like when someone tailgates you then burns by you and gives you a dirty look or worse and speeds off into the distance. That dark place we don't like to talk about hopes that we will see lights around the next corner and that same speeder being patted down on the hood of his car by an officer of the law.
That would be AWESOME!
But that's not forgiveness. We need to forgive as Jesus Christ forgave. When someone hurts us we need to pray for them. To pray that God would forgive them for their sin against us and bless them. This is easy to say and hard to do because we know that God is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
This is the cure for the root of bitterness.
I always thought he was scared or lazy but the real reason was because he didn't want God to forgive the Ninevites.
Jonah 3:6-10 NIV
When Jonah's warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.
This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
"By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.
So at this point you 'd think Jonah would be happy. He preached the word the people listened and repented and God showed grace and compasssion.
Nope. Jonah became angry.
Wait... What?
Sure, take a look...
Jonah 4:1-3 NIV
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord , "Isn't this what I said, Lord , when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord , take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live."
I've often introspected how I forgive. If someone does me wrong. there is a temptation to hold a grudge. To get back at that person but instead I forgive and smile a little bit when I think "Vengeance is mine, I (God) will repay" and then I am able to move on and turn that person over to the vengeance of God.
Kind of like when someone tailgates you then burns by you and gives you a dirty look or worse and speeds off into the distance. That dark place we don't like to talk about hopes that we will see lights around the next corner and that same speeder being patted down on the hood of his car by an officer of the law.
That would be AWESOME!
But that's not forgiveness. We need to forgive as Jesus Christ forgave. When someone hurts us we need to pray for them. To pray that God would forgive them for their sin against us and bless them. This is easy to say and hard to do because we know that God is a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Luke 6:27-28 NIV
"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
This is the cure for the root of bitterness.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Requiem for a plant
Isn't it interesting how much we care about meaningless things?
Maybe I shouldn't pull anyone else under the bus with me... It's interesting how much I care about meaningless things.
Sometimes I pray for help to get to work on time or help with a project. Now I'm not saying that I shouldn't pray about everything but I find it awkward whenever I hear something like, "... and then I prayed and miraculously there was one parking spot left right in front of the store!"
I caught myself praying for my favourite sports team to win a playoff game and when they didn't I was really disappointed.
Really disappointed.
I know I'm not alone and here's the proof...
Jonah 4:5-11 NIV
Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.
Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."
But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?"
"It is," he said. "And I'm so angry I wish I were dead."
But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?"
Jonah got so wrapped up in himself, in his comfort and enjoyment that he lost the plot. He cared more for a plant than 120,000 lost souls. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the good things of this life or taking some refreshment but that's not the mission its extraneous and if left uncontrolled can easily entangle us.
Maybe I shouldn't pull anyone else under the bus with me... It's interesting how much I care about meaningless things.
Sometimes I pray for help to get to work on time or help with a project. Now I'm not saying that I shouldn't pray about everything but I find it awkward whenever I hear something like, "... and then I prayed and miraculously there was one parking spot left right in front of the store!"
I caught myself praying for my favourite sports team to win a playoff game and when they didn't I was really disappointed.
Really disappointed.
I know I'm not alone and here's the proof...
Jonah 4:5-11 NIV
Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.
Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."
But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?"
"It is," he said. "And I'm so angry I wish I were dead."
But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?"
Jonah got so wrapped up in himself, in his comfort and enjoyment that he lost the plot. He cared more for a plant than 120,000 lost souls. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the good things of this life or taking some refreshment but that's not the mission its extraneous and if left uncontrolled can easily entangle us.
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