Matthew 25:9d buy for yourselves.

Matthew 25 begins with the telling tale of the ten virgins and the oil for the lamps. Oil represents anointing. So how does this relate to appropriations? Good question.

If you have read previous devotions these past few days, I pointed out that the words of the Kingdom are often different in meaning than as the world knows it. Here is one of those words, appropriations.

The U.S. government creates laws. In all cases except unfunded mandates, they collect taxes to enact these laws. A committee within the House of Representatives called Ways and Means appropriates funding to ensure these laws are carried out.

In the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the anointing oil is bought by individuals for their own lamps. Jesus Christ is the anointed. Jesus Christ is the Word. The oil is appropriated from the Word of God. The price paid is time and effort but the appropriation comes by making the Word yours.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

When you make the Word an integral part of who you are, it guides and directs your thoughts and actions.

Have you bought the oil for yourselves?

Do you continue to buy the oil as you use it or allow your lamp to run dry?

Thus the five virgins with oil were called wise.

2 Peter 3:1c I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

It is easier to understand a voice if He uses His Words. If you have been reading the Word and renewing your mind, then the Word is in you and shall not go away. The very first inkling that you are hearing Jesus, His voice, is hearing His Word. There will be times when circumstances bring to mind scripture, a matter of remembrance.

Peter gives us the secret of assurance that it is the Lord speaking. We have identified the first essential, that you have been in the Word and been diligent to acquire a solid familiarity with the Word of God. The second is in the stirring. I thick mixture is difficult to stir, a stiff one nearly impossible. It is difficult to hear the Lord if you are being stubborn, willful, proud.

Third and very important to listening, your mind cannot be preoccupied with worldly issues in any form. It does not have to be a sin to prevent you from listening, all it takes is your focus to be so strong that you do not allow that still small voice to be heard. If rooting for your favorite sports team is your total focus, then the Lord will allow you to do what you want. Desire is a large part of listening. We began with that first question; do you want to hear the Lord.

Now comes the more difficult part of listening, what is your appropriate response? In the beginning hearing the Lord is training in knowing His voice. One must be careful to make sure you have the scripture memory accurate. The Lord is the Word and He will not misquote or use His Word inappropriately. Do not trust in your memory, which is your mind, flesh and fallible. The appropriation of the Word is only if it is from the Lord.