Tuesday February 20, 2024

Today is Tuesday, February 20 and we are learning what the Bible says about leaving a legacy.

In the morning I turn to God and ask him to fulfill his plans and purposes for my upcoming day. I relinquish my cares, concerns and requests into his mighty hands and trust him with every detail of my comings and goings.

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord, I worship you in the stillness of the dawning day and seek your abiding presence. With each breath I inhale your loving kindness and exhale my worries and fears. Open the ears of my heart to receive the specific message you have for me. Amen.

I lift my praise to God and rejoice in his goodness with the words of Psalm 119.

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end. Psalm 119:111-112

Pause and Pray

The parable of the virgins (or bridesmaids) is based on the ancient Judean custom that on the wedding night the bridegroom fetched his bride from her parents’ home. After he negotiated the dowry price with the bride’s father, he then returned with his bride to his parents’ home for a great celebration and banquet. The bridesmaids would watch for the couple’s return and then escort them to the wedding banquet with joyful dancing and singing. In this instance the bridegroom was a “long time in coming” or delayed and the young girls 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. Matthew 25:6-10

The five foolish maids assumed they had enough oil to keep their lamps lit, but time ran out. The lamps became empty and could no longer be lit. They did not pay attention to their dwindling supply and then it was too late. They allowed their resources to run out. In the same way, I can wait too long, allow time to pass and miss precious opportunities to live the life I could have lived. The clock is ticking. The sand is sliding through the hourglass. Doors are closing. Opportunities are being missed. Ships are sailing forever. Like precious oil, time is running out. I must be a wise steward of the time I have.

Ask: How well am I using the time I have? When have I squandered the precious gift of time that will never return?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, come, wake me up and teach me how to live. Remind me of God’s precious gift of time. Show me how to wisely spend each day by living a life of love, generously sharing my resources and investing in a future for others. Do not let me become complacent and foolishly waste the time, talents and treasure you have given me. I read the words from Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

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. Matthew 25:6-10

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

In each day there are twenty-four hours, 1,440 minutes and 86,400 seconds. Every one of them is a precious gift from God. Time is something we feel we never have enough of, yet we spend it all too easily. Someone once said, “Time is free, but it is priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back” (Anonymous). Time is running out and I must be a wise steward of the time I have. How might God want me to spend my upcoming twenty four hour day? What is the wisest use of the day ahead?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, teach me how to use time. Show me what it means to keep my lamp lit for you. Help me be prepared for the plans and purposes you have for me. Like the wise virgins, I want to be constantly ready to do your will, whatever it might be. Put my priorities in order and show me how to invest in your kingdom. Keep my lamp from going out, my heart full of love and my light shining before others. Amen.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

As I leave this time of prayer, I go to shine my light. May my good deeds glorify God and bless the world.

Amen