Matthew 25:8 (KJV) Empty Lamps, Empty Hearts, No Oil

Matthew 25:8 (KJV)

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. We must not forget that the parable of the ten virgins, and the one following—the parable of the talents—carry heavenly truths.

One key lesson in the parable of the ten virgins is this: no one else can be saved for you. No one is responsible for your salvation except you. We must come to Christ personally, or we do not come at all. I have met many who went forward with a crowd in a preaching meeting, only to realize later that they had followed people rather than truly coming to Christ.

Each of these parables carries the same earthly concept—responsibility, industry, and diligence. In our text, the five foolish virgins all said the same thing: “Give us.”

When others are generous, it is a wonderful blessing. Yet there is something wrong when someone always expects others to give to them. Asking in times of genuine need may be appropriate, but even that can be abused, leaving a poor testimony. Demanding that others give is never right.

Notice that the foolish virgins said, “Give us.” That spirit echoes socialism, a godless system that commands, “Give them.” Such giving is almost never appreciated. (Jesus did command His disciples, “Give ye them to eat.” He was teaching His followers to be a giving people. But He was not endorsing socialism. Even when Jesus gave, many misunderstood and tried to make Him king—not because they believed on Him, but because they wanted free food.)

The bottom line is clear: “If a man will not work, neither shall he eat.” That is an earthly principle, but it points to a heavenly truth—you cannot ride into heaven on someone else’s faith. You must come to Christ alone, carrying the full weight of your own guilt. Then, lay it down at the cross. Only then will you walk away free.

#FoolishAndWise #ParableOfResponsibility #ComeToChristAlone #TrueSalvation #FaithNotSocialism

Empty Lamps, Empty Hearts, No Oil: Faith Is Yours Alone

💡 Are You Ready—or Just Borrowing Oil?

In Matthew 25:8, the foolish virgins begged the wise, “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” The truth is clear: you cannot borrow salvation. Faith must be your own.

👉 What about you—are you trusting in Christ personally, or leaning on someone else’s faith?

📖 If you’ve been searching for real Bible answers about salvation, heaven, and walking with Christ, I invite you to join the discussion in the comments. Share your thoughts: Do you think most people today are more like the wise or the foolish virgins? Why?

📲 Hungry for more solid, biblical teaching? Visit marvinmckenzie.org for Bible studies, videos, and resources rooted in the King James Bible.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6800 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
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Matthew 25:8 (KJV) Empty Lamps, Empty Hearts, No Oil

Matthew 24:4 (KJV) Stay Ready

Matthew 24:4 (KJV)

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

There are few subjects more contested than end times, especially the second coming of Christ. Truthfully, eschatology—the study of last things—is one that must be painted with a broad brush. The devil really is in these details!

I think there are some basic things that are clear enough to be confident of. They’re like the minutes on the clock. We can count them off pretty well. We just don’t know the day nor the hour, nor should we try to focus on the second hand.

Here’s the thing Jesus made abundantly clear: concerning the end, many will attempt to deceive us.

He warns us:

• Don’t be deceived by false religion (v. 5).
• Don’t be concerned by wars and rumors of wars (vv. 6–7).
• Don’t be offended by oppression and persecution (vv. 9–12).
• Don’t let your love wax cold through iniquity (v. 12).
• Don’t be silent in preaching the gospel (v. 14).

With all the deceiving possibilities out there, how can we take heed not to be deceived? The answer must be found in one way only—prayerfully read the Word of God. It is a light in the darkness. Attend a church that faithfully preaches the Word of God. It is a light in the darkness.

Beyond that, I have just one other suggestion:
Do be ready (v. 44).
Because as sure as the sun rises and sets—Jesus is coming again.

#TakeHeed #EndTimesTruth #WordOfGodLight #JesusIsComingAgain #DoNotBeDeceived

Stay Ready—Jesus Is Coming Again

⚠️ Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matthew 24:4). With so many voices shouting about end times, how can you know what’s true? The answer is simple—stand on the Word of God. 📖

👉 What do you think is the greatest deception believers face today? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

📲 Hungry for more solid, biblical teaching? Visit marvinmckenzie.org for Bible studies, videos, and resources rooted in the King James Bible.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6800 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 24:4 (KJV) Stay Ready

Matthew 23:18 (KJV) From Gift to God Himself

Matthew 23:18 (KJV)

And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

I’m just going to put this passage out there as foundational to the principle:

Matthew 5:34 (KJV)
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne.

Let’s keep this in mind. It’s best to “swear not at all.” What’s happening in our text is not a lesson on how and upon what to swear. It is a lesson rather on the value of those things we count as spiritual.

We tend to put the most value on what seems practical, tangible, immediate, or helpful—at least for the moment. But in our text, Jesus places these “things of God” in order, from the least to the greatest.

First level: The Gift
The Pharisees valued the gift, but that was hypocritical. The altar upon which the gift is given is greater.

Second level: The Altar
The altar is greater than the gift because it represents not only our gift but all that is placed upon it. The combined, continuing gifts become useful in God’s work.

Third level: The Temple
For our purposes, this points to the local church today. The church is the body of Christ. It is so much more than time, talents, and treasures given—it is the life of Christ lived out visibly, organized, and active in the community. It is not a social gathering; it is the presence of Christ, who is its Head.

Fourth level: Heaven
What a joy to anticipate heaven—the place where God’s will is done perfectly, freely, and without error or coercion.

Fifth level: The Throne of God
The throne represents God’s authority, majesty, righteousness, beauty, judgment, wealth, grace, and mercy—all resting in Him who reigns.

Final and ultimate: Him that sitteth on the throne
This is where our eyes must be fixed. Too often, we focus on the things of God—the benefits, the works, the rest, the home—and miss God Himself.

I remember a song I heard often when I first got saved:
“Jesus will be what makes it heaven to me.”

If the walls were not jasper,
If the streets not pure gold,
If mansions crumbled,
If folks could grow old,
Still I’d see everything I’ve longed to see,
Because Jesus will be what makes it heaven to me.

(Words and Music by Lanny Wolfe, Lanny Wolfe Music Co., ASCAP, Copyright 1974)

#ValueWhatMatters #FromGiftToGod #ChristAboveAll #EyesOnTheThrone #JesusMakesItHeaven

From Gift to God Himself: What Truly Makes Heaven Heaven

✨ What do you value most — the blessings of God, or God Himself? ✨

Jesus taught that the altar is greater than the gift, the temple greater than the altar, and the throne of God greater than them all. But above everything is the Lord Himself. 🙌

📖 Are you focusing on the things of God, or on God Himself?
💬 Share your thoughts in the comments — what helps you keep your eyes on the Lord?

📲 Hungry for more solid, biblical teaching? Visit marvinmckenzie.org for Bible studies, videos, and resources rooted in the King James Bible.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6800 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 23:18 (KJV) From Gift to God Himself

Deuteronomy 14:22 (KJV) Wholehearted Faith

Deuteronomy 14:22 (KJV)

Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

I’m focusing on the word “truly.”

Of the tithe, Joseph Benson writes:
“There were three sorts of tithes to be paid from the people, besides those from the Levites to the priests.

1. To the Levites for their maintenance (Lev. 27:30–33; Num. 18:21).
2. For the Lord’s feasts and sacrifices, to be eaten by the offerers at Jerusalem (these are here intended).
3. Every third year, a tithe for the poor, to be eaten at their own dwellings (Deut. 14:28–29).”

We can be so “legalistic,” so focused on the “letter of the law” when it comes to things we may not fully agree with God about. We start to parse passages and search for loopholes so we can do the very least God commands—and get away with it.

Some say tithing was part of the Old Testament and therefore not required today. But they don’t usually hold that position so they can give more to the Lord—but so they can give less.

The fact that there was more than one tithe suggests to me that tithing was more widespread and central to God’s people than most assume.

God says to truly tithe.

Webster’s 1828 defines truly:

• “In fact; in deed; in reality.”
• “Sincerely; honestly; really; faithfully.”
• “Exactly; justly.”

That means:

• Tithe according to truth—because it is taught in the Bible.
• Tithe sincerely and honestly—because of your love for God.
• Tithe exactly and justly—the whole tithe. Be not as Ananias and Sapphira, who held back part.

To tithe truly is to give in reality, sincerely, and fully—not reluctantly or half-heartedly.

#TrulyTithe #GiveFaithfully #BibleTruths #StewardshipMatters #LoveTheLord

Wholehearted Faith: No Loopholes in Loving the Lord

💡 God commanded Israel to truly tithe (Deuteronomy 14:22). That means giving faithfully, sincerely, and completely—not holding back. Many ask: Is tithing still for today?

👉 What do you believe—should Christians tithe under the New Testament? Share your answer in the comments below.

📲 Hungry for more solid, biblical teaching? Visit marvinmckenzie.org for Bible studies, videos, and resources rooted in the King James Bible.

👉 Join our community in studying God’s Word and strengthening your faith.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6800 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Deuteronomy 14:22 (KJV) Wholehearted Faith