Keeping Our Lamps Burning Bright
Month 6: Stories Jesus Told · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Matthew 25:1-13 & Ephesians 5:18
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4 But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 ‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. — Matthew 25:1-13
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. — Ephesians 5:18
Memory Verse
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’”— Matthew 25:21 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Psalms 93-96
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 176 of 365 — "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!" — worship for the King who is coming to reign.)The Heart of It
Jesus told about ten young women waiting to greet a bridegroom at a wedding. All ten had lamps. All ten wanted to go in. But five were wise and brought extra oil. Five were foolish and brought none. When the bridegroom was delayed, every lamp started to flicker. The wise had oil to refill theirs. The foolish ran out. They rushed off to buy more, and they came back to a shut door. The difference between the two groups wasn't whether they had a lamp. It was whether they had oil. That's the heart of the story. It is not enough to look the part. What matters is having a real, lasting supply on the inside, ready for the day the King returns.
Throughout the Bible, oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit. He is the very life and power of God poured into His people. A lamp without oil is like a Christian trying to shine on willpower and good intentions alone. Sooner or later, the flame goes out. That's why Paul tells us, "be filled with the Spirit" (). And the way he says it means keep on being filled, again and again, like a lamp topped up every day. We don't store the Spirit once and then coast. We come back morning by morning to be filled afresh. We come in prayer, in the Word, and in surrender. This is the secret of a steady, bright Christian life that doesn't burn out when waiting gets long. You can't borrow someone else's oil. Each of us comes to Jesus ourselves and asks, "Fill me again today." A lamp that is kept full is ready whenever the Bridegroom comes.
Around the Table
A lamp needs oil to keep shining! The Holy Spirit is like oil that keeps our hearts glowing bright for Jesus.
Let's do it: Pretend to be little lamps — crouch down, then "fill up" (reach up to God) and pop up shining bright. "Fill me, Holy Spirit!"
The wise girls had extra oil. The foolish ones ran out. We "fill up" on the Spirit by spending time with Jesus every day.
Let's talk: What are some ways we can "fill our lamps" each day so we don't run dry?
When Paul says "be filled with the Spirit," he means keep on being filled. The Spirit-filled life isn't a one-time event we coast on. It is a daily refilling, and no one can lend you their oil.
Let's go deeper: What is the difference between trying to obey God on your own willpower and being filled with the Spirit? Where do you feel yourself running on empty?
💬 Conversation Starter
Have you ever had a flashlight or toy die because the batteries ran out at the worst moment? What's the "oil" that keeps your heart from running out?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some say one person's faith can carry their family or friends along. But Jesus' parable shows each person needs their own oil. No one can be saved on someone else's relationship with God (). Faith is personal. Each of us must come to Jesus ourselves.
For Dad · Go Deeper
This parable, read alongside , exposes a quiet danger in Christian homes: secondhand faith. Five of the ten had everything that looked right. They were in the wedding party. They had lamps. They were waiting. And they still ended up outside, because they had no living supply of their own. Here is the sobering, gracious truth. Your children cannot run forever on your oil. They can borrow your routines, your words, even your reputation at church. But they cannot borrow the Spirit. Your highest aim isn't to produce kids who can perform Christianity. It is to raise kids who have actually met the Lord and keep coming back to be filled. Classic Pentecostal teaching holds that the fullness of the Spirit is not a one-time deposit but an ongoing experience. It is present-tense and repeated: "keep on being filled." That goes for you, too. The flickering lamp at home is usually Dad's, not the kids'. Lead them by being a man who comes empty to the Father every morning and asks to be filled afresh.
Draws on: Gordon Fee, God's Empowering Presence; Robert Menzies, Empowered for Witness.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit again today, and keep filling us. Don't let our lamps run dry while we wait for Jesus. Help each of us walk closely with You so we're ready and shining bright when the Bridegroom comes. In Jesus' name, amen."
A lamp needs oil every day. So I'll come to be filled with the Spirit again today.