A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily prayers. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin. Some of the ideas in the devotion were inspired by a commentary authored by Grant R Osborne.
Matthew 25:1-13
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Devotion: “Not perfect, but prepared”
Thanksgiving is coming this week and some of us Americans are preparing for the annual ritual.
We have to have the goodies ready to go and it varies from household to household what our favorite items are to feast on; but we do spend time preparing and hopefully don’t wait to get our ingredients on Thanksgiving Day. The text today from Matthew is telling us that all are invited to the wedding but that those who are not prepared will be left out. This parable says all are invited to God’s Kingdom but only those who are prepared will be let in. He is not saying we have to have a life of sinless perfection but we need constant readiness for our Savior’s return. It is not like preparing for a certain date such as Thanksgiving Day because there is only One who knows the date. Ask yourself “Do I have a personal relationship with God?” A strong personal relationship with Him is how we prepare for entry into His Kingdom. You cannot afford to miss the moment like the foolish virgins did.
We have to have the goodies ready to go and it varies from household to household what our favorite items are to feast on; but we do spend time preparing and hopefully don’t wait to get our ingredients on Thanksgiving Day. The text today from Matthew is telling us that all are invited to the wedding but that those who are not prepared will be left out. This parable says all are invited to God’s Kingdom but only those who are prepared will be let in. He is not saying we have to have a life of sinless perfection but we need constant readiness for our Savior’s return. It is not like preparing for a certain date such as Thanksgiving Day because there is only One who knows the date. Ask yourself “Do I have a personal relationship with God?” A strong personal relationship with Him is how we prepare for entry into His Kingdom. You cannot afford to miss the moment like the foolish virgins did.
Pray: Lord, draw me closer to you! Amen
Blessings,
Joe