Looking ahead to the texts for next week’s message, I find myself in Matthew 25. It looks like the remainder of November to Advent will be in Matthew 25.

This passage comes at the end of a larger context beginning in Matthew 23.

As I begin to read through all of this material, then focus in on Matthew 25, the theme that comes to mind is this: “Live Without Excuse.” The five foolish bridesmaids, the foolish servant with one “talent” (or bag of gold), and the goats all had excuses. They wanted to blame someone else. But their excuses rang hollow. They did not live with expectation. They did not live in the delight of simple duty.

The call is not to live for our own simple pleasures and demand that the Master show up on our timetable. The call of the believer is to live with duty in mind, find the delight of that serving, and stay at it until the Master says otherwise. It is not joy-less. It is joy-ful. 

Jesus is our just reward. It’s not the applause of others. It is not the awards from others. It is the simple joy of knowing we have done what has been asked of us. No excuses.