Preparing the Way of the Lord!
Monday, December 6, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the patience You have shown down through the centuries and even millennia as You have given Your people time to prepare for Your coming! I pray that as I go about this day that I will live as one who is prepared, that I will always be prepared to share with others about the faith that lies within me, and that my chief response to Your great love and salvation will be loving obedience. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may have the boldness to tell others of Your great plan for the salvation of the world. This I pray in Jesus’ name. 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
What is the biggest opportunity you have ever missed in your life? How do you feel about missing it?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What caused the commotion among the bridesmaids? (25:6)
How did the two groups of bridesmaids respond to the bridegroom’s coming? (25:7-9)
Understanding God's Word
Why do you think Jesus chose “midnight” as the time of the bridegroom’s coming?
Why do you think the five “wise” bridesmaids would not share some of their oil with the “foolish” bridesmaids?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What preparation do you need to make to be ready for the “bridegroom’s” coming?
Thoughts..."The Bridegroom Is Coming!"
What would you do right now if you heard a loud bolt of thunder, ran outside and found that lighting was illuminating the entire sky from east to west? What would you do if you KNEW that right now was the moment of Jesus’ coming? Is there anything in your life right now that you would change if you knew that Jesus was going to come today—or tomorrow? How do we know that Jesus is NOT coming today or tomorrow? Living with the Bridegroom’s coming certain, but the timing of the coming uncertain can be a challenging task. How easy it would be if we knew the exact date and time of Jesus’ return---or would it be easy? If we knew that Jesus was returning tomorrow, or next week, or in six months from now, what would be the result in our lives? Are there people we would want to tell? Are there activities we would want to stop? Once again, how do we know that Jesus isn’t returning tomorrow, or next week, or in six months? If we want to be in the same category as the “wise” bridesmaids, then we must live TODAY as if Jesus was returning, and then live that way tomorrow, too. That way whenever He comes we will be found ready!