A Series of Monthly Devotions

 

 

August 2010

Read:

Matthew 25: 1-13

Consider:

In the parable of the five wise and foolish virgins, which echoes the Old Testament image of God as the bridegroom; and we, as the church, love him as a bride loves her bridegroom.

Jesus ended this story with the warning for all believers at all times to be prepared for His coming. He urged them at all times to be watching in anticipation for His second coming if we are to enter into His wedding with His bride, from among the Church of believers.

Jesus was pointing out that being part of His church depended not only on living a righteous life in oneself but that it is necessary to have the salvation provided through His sacrifice on Calvary through faith in the name of Jesus. It is necessary to be filled with His Holy Spirit, which is equated in the Bible as the oil of the Spirit, I Sam 16:13, Exodus 31:11, Acts 10:38.

 

Chapter 24 of Matthew’s gospel states that we should anticipate the general time for His return by observing the events of the day that had been predicted in the Scriptures. These, by necessity, must occur before His second coming. He compared that with our ability to predict that summer is near because we observe the changes in the weather in spring. As the predicted events in the Scriptures are fulfilled, then we should anticipate that the Jesus’ return could happen in the very near future.

 

So, as the wise virgins made sure they had plenty oil for their lamps to see them ok until the bridegroom appears, we too, should prepare for the wait until Jesus returns.

 

The Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Bible as the oil of the spirit; similarly the oil in the lamps can be compared to the spirit dwelling within us. So if we see take that a step further and see ourselves as the lamps that the virgins carried we need to make sure we have sufficient oil in us – the Holy Spirit.

 

Recently, I was ministered to by a patient of mine, who told me that during a sermon she heard recently, the minister explained that as the foolish virgins tried to borrow some oil from the wise virgins, unsuccessfully, likewise we have to get our own oil. We can’t borrow it. This oil is our salvation. No-one can give it to us – we need to get it for ourselves. In other words – we need to get our own oil. That struck quite a chord with me. We need to get our own oil – wow! So, we need to ask Jesus into our lives for our salvation. No-one can do it for us. Are you prepared to get your own oil? Don't delay, do it today.

 

We need to be prepared for His return at all times, watching and waiting and our souls filled with the oil of His anointing Spirit.

 

Pray:

 

Lord God, grant to us the oil of salvation that we may be filled with sufficient oil to watch and wait for your return. Keep us topped up through prayer that we may be ready at the appointed hour to be with you at the Father’s side.

 

This we ask in Jesus’ name,

Amen.