Matthew 25: 1-13
Jesus
told his disciples this parable:
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
“The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Prepare your hearts for the coming of the Kingdom. Do not
live today believing there will be a tomorrow. If Jesus were to return right
now you could not go off and make right all your wrongs. You stand as you are.
Go instead and prepare in the time that you have. Mend the brokenness of your
life. Right the ledger with not only God but your fellow man. Do not let
nightfall find you with a broken bridge. Grant forgiveness for every wrong done
to you. Love your neighbor as you wish to be loved by the Father.
If Jesus comes he will find in you a humble, contrite
heart. He will find one prepared to receive him and inherit the Father’s royal
nature. If you awake tomorrow it is another opportunity to love as you yourself
wish to be loved. It is an opportunity to put joy into another’s heart. It is
another opportunity to witness the glory of Jesus in the way you live your
life.
A prepared heart is over abundantly joy filled at the
bridegroom’s return while the unprepared scatter around anxiously. Jesus loves
those who prepare themselves for his arrival and shuns those who live solely
for themselves and are not concerned with the coming kingdom. Do not be found
locked outside of the door when it closes, eternally separated from God.
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