Preparing the Way of the Lord!
Sunday, December 5, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for a new day and new week of life, to live, learn and worship You! I praise You for giving us time to be prepared for Your coming. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit right now, that I may be empowered to boldly bear testimony to Your great salvation, and You impending return. I pray that as I worship with my brothers and sisters through Your Son, Jesus, that all of us will offer You the praise worthy of Your name, and that we will be equipped to go out and serve You obediently in the coming week. This I pray in Jesus’ name, and for the sake of His coming Kingdom. Amen.
God’s Word Today
Matthew 25:1-13 (Due to the size of the passage, we will focus on 25:1-13 Sunday-Tuesday; and 25:14-30 Wednesday-Saturday)
1“The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish took no oil for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all lay down and slept. 6At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!’
7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’
10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘sir, open the door for us!’ 12But he called back, ‘I don’t know you!’
13“So stay awake and be prepared, because you do not know the day or hour of my return.
Reflecting on God's Word
Has there ever been something important that you waited for, but something came up that caused you to miss it?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What does Jesus say this story concerns? (25:1)
Who are the main characters in the story? (25:2-4)
Understanding God's Word
How do you see this story relating to the Kingdom of God?
Who does the bridegroom represent? Why do you think so?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What one action does today’s Scripture call you to take?
Thoughts...The Bridegroom Was Delayed!
When Jesus came to the earth to bring salvation to humanity, He made it clear that He would “go away” for a while, and then return to claim those who serve Him as Savior and Lord. While He tells us that the “story” or parable is about the Kingdom of God (and it is!) the key aspect of the Kingdom of God that the story brings to us is Jesus’ return! Jesus is the bridegroom, as you have undoubtedly realized, and He is preparing to return to claim His “bride,” the Church. The ten bridesmaids or “virgins” as we find it in the original Greek, are divided into two groups: wise and foolish. Wisdom in this case equals being ready—or planning ahead for the bridegroom’s coming. One of the key realities of the story is that the bridegroom was delayed. If He had come when everyone expected Him, all ten of the bridesmaids would have been ready. It was the delay that made the difference. In our lives Jesus has certainly been delayed. How easy for us to “lay down and sleep,” to be unprepared when Jesus returns. The reality is we will be considered “wise” or “foolish” to the degree that we are prepared when the bridegroom comes or we go to meet Him! If He comes today are you ready?