take the grace and run

Thursday November 13th, Matthew 25: 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to wait for the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The five foolish bridesmaids took their lamps, but they did not take more oil for the lamps to burn. 4 The wise bridesmaids took their lamps and more oil in jars. What is the oil? Is it faith? (a gift from God?) Is it works? (go buy some for yourselves?) Or is it perhaps something less specific? Is it perhaps the totality of our relationship with God and all that that entails, prayer, changed lives, good works, faith, Bible Study, awareness of Grace, worship, community, caring, Praising, Nurturing and Serving? If so, then how does one let the oil run out? As we take the grace of Reformation Sunday and run, we might want to stop and think about that.