Corona Devo 254

Over the years, traditions change and customs are altered but even if how-we-tell-the-story gets updated, the Story of God (and preparing our hearts and lives for Him) never changes. 

In the parable below, there are 10 bridesmaids/virgins that are waiting for the bridegroom to come, so that they can join the party.  But on this night the bridegroom was running late, and it put the preparedness of the bridesmaids to the test.  

The parable depicts us and challenges the condition of our hearts and our readiness for Jesus.

 25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’  7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’  9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’  10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.  11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’  12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’  13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.  ~Matthew 25:1-13

We automatically place ourselves in the "prepared" bridesmaid group, don't we?  

But I feel God challenging us about why we feel prepared to "meet the bridegroom", and pushing us to fill our jars of oil.  

Where are we today with our faith?  Some of us are in line for the party, but we don't really know the Bridegroom.   We've heard of Him, been told stories about Him, but the truth is, we are hoping to "borrow someone else's oil", or ride on the coattails of someone else's faith in order to "connect with God" or to get to Heaven.  That's not how it works though: ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’  12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’  (Matthew 25:11-12).

The very good news is that the reason that Jesus told the parables (then and now!) was to prick our hearts and open our eyes to understanding Him.  And to reveal that we have time to come to Him, and to "fill our jars of oil", if you will. But the time is now, because we simply do not know the day or the hour when our time will run out.

I've been blessed to be a part of some local prayer gatherings lately.  Before the sunrises daily, it's just me and Jesus.  But at night, it's with our family, on our knees in our living room or back patio, being led in devotion by my husband and praying simple prayers for evil to be revealed in our Nation and for God's blessing and protection to stay on America.  But I have also gained strength and encouragement in my driveway, praying with friends and neighbors as we humble ourselves before the Lord and welcome Him into our marriages, our families, and our Government.  And kudos to a few local women who have obeyed God's nudge for them to organize a weekly prayer meeting at a local church for anyone looking to unite in prayer during this time of upheaval and confusion in our Nation and ourselves.  

Prayer (alone and with others) is the oil that keeps our lamps burning.  It connects us to God because prayer is simply talking to God.  Make time to do it.

And if you are unsure how to do it, I encourage and welcome you to make time to be a part of those doing it.  

But we have to make time.

At our last prayer-gathering, someone speaker commented that some of the friends that she invited couldn't make it because they had other plans, practices and commitments.  With 3 kids in sports, homework, jobs, and life, I completely understand that, and I missed last week's meeting because of it.  

But she went on to make a point that for too long Americans have taken privileges, freedoms, and even religious liberties for granted, and that we need to wake up and begin prioritizing God and prayer, or else pretty soon, we may not have the option of enjoying these other "priorities".  Wait a minute, how many extracurriculars have been taken away already? 

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. (Matthew 25:3).  Do you feel like your lamp has run out of oil?  Once bright, your spirit and hope are flickering, and we want to be inside of the gathering, not outside knocking.

We can be.  Meet with God alone.  Talk to Him like a friend.  He is your friend.

Or meet with some friends to talk and pray.  You won't believe the lift it brings your spirit.  We are not alone.  God is with us, and prayer unites us with others and Him, and ushers in His peace and His strength.  We need it, and it's there, but no one else is going to fill our lamps for us.  

The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. (Matthew 25:4).  

Let's get prepared for the banquet.  Let's ready our hearts and wake up to the realization that our relationship with Jesus begins now, and it is personal.  Let's fill our jars with the oil of God's Word, prayer, and gathering with other believers.  Lord, let us be counted among the wise today, Amen.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com