April 14th, 20

APRIL 14,  THE POWER OF OIL

Our reading today is 1 Samuel 15 – 16, 1 Chronicles 5, and Matthew 1.  We are reading through the New Living Translation.

It’s ironic how important oil is in our world.  The world’s oil is the substance that establishes kingdoms.  The world’s economy is directed by the price of oil. Wars are waged- lives are made- lives are destroyed, all by oil.  But the world’s oil, as powerful as it is, can not create what the world truly needs. The world needs peace. This world cannot produce peace. The world’s oil can’t transform the human heart.  But God’s oil can. God’s oil is another story altogether. God’s anointing oil comes from a Tree. And this oil represents God’s presence, his power and his blessing. This little forgotten anointing oil- forgotten amidst all our frenzied pursuit of the world’s oil, and all that it represents – this Oil of God, is what the world and it’s people truly long for and truly need.  

In our reading today we see Samuel taking a flask of anointing oil, and pouring it over the head of a young shepherd boy named David.  God’s oil, his answer, isn’t a thing, it’s a man, it’s his Son. And David, like this oil, is a picture of what God’s ultimate answer is for the world.  God’s ultimate answer is Jesus. He is the Anointed One, the Presence of God, the Power of God, the Blessing of God. He came, according to the Scripture.  He was born of a virgin, he lived, he was crucified, he died, he was buried, and he was raised from the dead. Now he offers us his Oil, his Presence. The Spirit of God now abides in his people.  We are like little oil lamps, filled with the living God, shining his Light in this dark world. Through the oil of his Spirit He is transforming lives, one person at a time, day after day. Hallelujah!

God’s anointing oil has been poured over you, because of what Jesus has done. Let him live His life in you, shining his Light, through you.

You are loved!