I have a confession to make: I am not a Dallas Cowboys fan. I know, I know — them there’s fightin’ words in this here town, but I have my reasons. I grew up admiring Earl Campbell, Warren Moon and the light blue oil derrick outlined in red that symbolized my Houston football team. The Oilers may not have been the strongest team in the NFL (and I knew even less about football then than I do nowadays), but they were my hometown team, and I rooted for them wholeheartedly.

My lil' brother's old Oilers sweatshirt that our awesome aunt made for him.

Consequently, I cannot – ever – cheer for the Tennessee Titans, because my loyalty is in Houston. Some of you may try to remind me that the Titans are technically the new Oilers, but I don’t buy it. They aren’t Houston’s team any longer; the Texans are.

The point is that when we associate ourselves with a group – be it a professional sports team, college alma mater, religious belief, etc. – we have a choice whether to be fair weather followers or commit for the long haul. And if we commit, it comes at a price. When we belong to a group, it can be difficult to remain faithful. Losing seasons come. Ok, multiple losing seasons come. People mock us. Sometimes, it seems like a better idea to just ditch the team and revoke your Fan Club membership.

(We’re not really talking about football anymore, are we? Don’t these same issues surface in our spiritual lives, as well?)

Jesus warned his disciples in John 15 that there would come times when they were not the “in” crowd. People would mock and persecute them. However, because he claims us as his own through faith, we can rest assured that no matter what the fair weather followers (and outright opponents) may think of us, we always have a place to belong. Don’t throw in the towel when your season of life looks like a lost cause. Keep the faith, because Christ is victorious!

Is there someone you know whose lamp oil has run dry? Someone whose life needs to be rekindled by Christ? Share your faith story with them.

Some say that the devil likes to make us busy to distract us from God. In what ways do you need to slow down & give God control today?

What can you do today to keep the fire burning strong in your faith walk?

In this week’s story, the 10 friends were supposed to keep their lamps lit. What has God entrusted you to do with your life for him?

When God doesn’t “show up” in the way (or time) we expect, do we keep the lamp burning, so to speak, or give up waiting on him?

Does it ever seem like God is running late? Talk to him today about placing your problems and expectations into his timeframe, not yours.

“Life is short.” What does that statement mean to you? Party harder while you can, or do something meaningful with the time you have?

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night and remembered something that you needed to do, but by the time the morning rolled around, you forgot it again? I tend to be a list maker, and I have been known to send an email to myself, scribble a barely legible to-do note in haste, or leave a voice message on my office phone to remind me of something: “Good morning, Self! Did you add money to the kids’ lunch accounts yet?”

If I don’t leave myself a reminder, then I may drop the ball, miss a deadline, get caught unprepared. Come to think of it, Jesus talked about a similar dilemma in Matthew 25. He told a parable of 10 friends who were tasked with the job of waiting up all night for a groom to arrive to his wedding party. Their job was to light the way for the groom, and they were expected to be prepared when he showed up. They each had an oil lamp, but only five of them thought to bring extra oil.

The groom was really late arriving … like midnight. In the meantime, the 10 friends had dozed off, and when they heard the groom was finally en route, they scrambled to get their lamps ready. Unfortunately, five of them were short on lamp oil and had to leave the reception line to go buy some. When the groom arrived, he invited the other five inside and locked the door. The others returned from the store and asked to be let in to the party but were turned away.

This story may sound like a harsh way for a newlywed to treat his friends, but Jesus is trying to make a point with it. He has already invited us to the party to end all parties – one that lasts through all eternity! – but he asks us to be prepared. Is there something keeping you from being totally committed to Christ? Like the five who forgot their lamp oil, are you hoping to be good enough or perhaps just wait until the eleventh hour to get things right with God? Not everyone has a deathbed on which to make a last-minute confession. Life is short. Be prepared; don’t delay.

What does it mean to have freedom in Christ? In what ways have you already been set free? Praise him today for his mercy and grace.