Matthew 25: Wise and Foolish (7)

Pray Psalm 96.11-13.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice
before the LORD.
For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth.

Sing Psalm 96.11-13.
(Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above)
Let heaven sing with lusty voice; let earth and sea sing sweetly!
Let fields and trees in Him rejoice, for He is coming swiftly
to judge the world in righteousness, the peoples in His faithfulness –
He comes; exalt Him greatly!

Read and meditate on Matthew 25.1-46.

Prepare.
1. In this chapter, who are the wise, and who are the foolish?

2. From this chapter, what happens when Jesus returns?

Meditate.
Jesus was very shortly to finish His earthly sojourn, but He wanted His followers to know that His death on the cross was not the end of things. He was going away to inherit a Kingdom and prepare a feast for His bride. But He would return, and when He did, those who had believed His Word and prepared for His coming would not be disappointed.

The wise person listens to the Word of Jesus and follows His teaching and instructions carefully. Jesus calls us to let our light shine, and to keep it shining as long as we are in this world. He has given us time, gifts, and opportunities to serve, and He expects a return from His investment in us, so that He might be glorified in the good works of loving service that we do. Every day we have opportunities to shine our light, spend the grace and truth of God on others, and reach out to those around us with the love of Jesus. As we do, Jesus said we are ministering to Him, that is, we are carrying on His ministry, just as He has taught us in His Word.

A final day is coming. There will be an accounting, involving judgment in which the wise will be gathered to Jesus and the foolish will be condemned. This will be followed by a marriage feast that will last forever.

Trim your lights. Roll up your sleeves. Look around for someone to serve. Be wise. Get ready. Jesus is coming again.

Reflect.
1. What are we supposed to be doing as we await the return of Jesus?

2. How can we lay aside all foolishness and increase in wisdom?

3. How should the return of Jesus affect the way we conduct our lives in our Personal Mission Field?

Again, in order to persuade believers to holiness of life, he assures them that the good and the bad will not share alike; because he will bring with him the reward which is laid up for both. In short, he declares that his kingdom will be fully established, when the righteous shall have obtained a crown of glory, and when the wicked shall have received the reward which they deserved.  John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Matthew 35.32

I will serve You today, Jesus, looking forward to Your return, so that I…

Pray Psalm 96.1-10.
Jesus is coming again! Meditate on what will happen at His coming, and give Him thanks for every opportunity to serve Him today.

Sing Psalm 96.1-10.
Psalm 96.1-10 (Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above)
Sing to the Lord! O, bless His Name! All nations tell His glory!
Salvation’s tidings loud proclaim; let earth rehearse His story!
For God is greatly to be praised; His throne above all gods is raised –
fear Him, and sing His glory!

All other gods are idols vain – the Lord created heaven.
Splendor and strength with Him obtain; to Him be glory given!
All fam’lies, praise this mighty Lord! Give strength and glory to His Word;
exalt the Lord of heaven.

Bring off’rings sweet to Him, our Lord, in holy garments praise Him!
Tremble before Him, all the earth; among the nations raise Him!
The earth is fixed, it will not move; the peoples will His justice prove –
exalt the Lord and praise Him.

T. M. Moore

At the website
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).