Day 3: The oil of readiness
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning..." (Luke 12:35).
Our God and heavenly Father, You are light—in You there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Our Lord Jesus told us, I am the light of the world (John 8:12).
Long ago, You revealed Yourself to Your people through symbols and representations—shadows of the glory of Your coming Christ, and of the time when You would pour out Your Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28). You gave instructions to those ministering before You:
“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning…. Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning” (Exodus 27:20-21).
But for our times, the Lord Jesus has given His church the gifts of the Spirit and has instructed us, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We have no light of our own—we can only reflect Your light, Your radiance, Your glory.
Father, help us to be dressed, ready for service with our lamps burning as the Lord Jesus instructed. Empty lamps cannot reflect light—we can only reflect Your light if we are filled with the oil of Your Spirit, and the brilliance of Your presence.
Help us not to go dim for want of oil in our lamps. Help us to be watchful and waiting—filled with the oil of readiness, like the wise virgins in our Lord’s parable (Matthew 25:1-10).
The darkness around us is palpable. It ever increases, ever encroaches. Let the oil of Your Spirit flow through us into all the dismal and hopeless spaces. Teach us to be blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Help us to shine among them like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life (Philippians 2:15-16).
When Jesus comes to reward His servants, Whether it be noon or night, Faithful to Him will He find us watching, With our lamps all trimmed and bright?
Refrain: Oh, can we say we are ready, brother? Ready for the soul’s bright home? Say, will He find you and me still watching, Waiting, waiting when the Lord shall come?
Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching, In His glory they shall share; If He shall come at the dawn or midnight, Will He find us watching there?
~ Frances J. Crosby ~ 1876
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