Disciples to the End: Stir Up
Be More Like Jesus
Matthew 25:1-11
Rev. Tim Callow
Preached Sun. Nov. 8th, 2026
I was in the Boy Scouts and we would camp at least four times a year if not more. Our district had its own camp nearby and each troop had a parcel of land allotted to it. Troops could do whatever they wanted on that land whenever they wanted. So while we went to the big summer camps every year we also made sure to go to our home camp in the fall and spring, at least, to clean up and work on merit badges and camping skills.
Whenever we camped I was always the first one up. I don’t know why that was. I went to bed at the same time and had the same sun hitting my eyes through the tent. But I’d be up a good half hour or forty-five minutes before anyone else. And even in the summer the mornings were cold. I’d put an extra layer on, go to the fire pit, and look for the embers. There were always embers left over. I’d then find some birch bark, some kindling, blow into the embers, and work to restore the fire. By the time the rest were up I’d already be sitting by a restored fire. I took a lot of pride in being able to get a fire going from a single ember.
We, too, are called the rekindle the flame. Our acts of prayer, meditation, scripture reading, and service are meant to stir-up the embers inside and renew the fire that God has implanted in us. That fire is the fire of our love for God, our earnest desire to follow him in all that we do.
Jesus, this morning, tells a parable about keeping the fire of our love lit through the long haul. There are ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom before a wedding feast, Jesus says. Five of them are foolish and five of them are wise. The wise ones brought flasks of oil along with their lamps just in case the bridegroom tarries. And I’ve done enough weddings to know the bride or the bridegroom can, in fact, tarry. But the foolish ones don’t consider that possibility and don’t bring any extra oil for their lamps.
The bridegroom takes so long to arrive that all of the virgins fall asleep. But in the middle of the night the cry goes out that the bridegroom has arrived. The virgins all trim their wicks but the foolish ones realize they do not have enough oil to accompany the bridegroom on his journey to the wedding party. They ask the wise virgins for a share of the oil, but they insist there isn’t enough for everyone. The wise suggest the foolish virgins go to the merchants and buy some oil.
While the foolish virgins are looking for oil in the dead of night the bridegrooms festal procession makes its way to the wedding party. The foolish virgins are able to get oil but it is too late. The procession is over. The bridegroom has arrived at the party. When they make it the door is shut. The foolish virgins try to get in, "Lord, lord, open to us.” But the bridegroom refuses, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.”
Jesus finishes the parable by giving us its moral, “Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
This parable concerns the return of Jesus, and being ready for the long haul. We are all the virgins awaiting his return. And his return has tarried. We do not know the day or the hour when he will return. We just know he’s not here yet. In this situation, how do we make sure we are ready when he comes?
The key image of this story is that of oil. All the virgins have lamps. But only some bring enough oil. And the oil is required to light the lamp. If we want to be ready for the long haul we need to bring our oil. But what does the oil represent in this story?
The oil is what stirs up, what fuels, our love of God. It is what keeps us going. It is what helps us to shine our light.
At the beginning of our walk of discipleship the oil is never in question. We burn with the love of God and neighbor. We have made our decision. We are excited. We feel the presence of God in and among us. But that oil will burn out unless it is replenished. The fire will go out unless it’s stoked.
We are called to be disciples for the long haul. The Christian life is not exhausted in saying the sinner’s prayer and saying Jesus is our Lord and Savior. That is only the beginning. But discipleship is day to day, week to week, hour to hour. And we need the oil as we stand at the ready for his return that we may keep our lamps bright. That we may be burning with the love of God and neighbor.
This is where the means of grace come in. Christian fellowship, prayer, bible reading and bible study, the lord’s supper, generosity, all help us keep the lamp lit. All replenishes our oil. But the one means I really wish to emphasize this morning is that we must also stoke the flame. And we stoke it through meditation.
What I mean by meditation is simply that we keep in mind the acts and promises of God. Too often we fill our minds with trivialities and fear. But we need to, and I know I need to, keep in mind the promise of God to deliver us, forgive us, and save us. And we need to keep in mind the things God has done that prove God is able to do what he promises. Take time to think about the extravagant mercy of God and what blessings you have received. Take time to think about the outrageous love of God as shown in Christ the friend of sinners and in his cross. Take time to think about the steadfast love of God who restored Peter after he denied Jesus three times. Staying attentive to God in this way stokes the flames. Restores what may just be embers, but is just waiting to be fanned into flame.
We are called to discipleship for the long haul. And we can’t do that if we do not keep that love that we had at the first. If we do not burn with ardor for God.