This devotional is for single young adults, particularly in their twenties and thirties and call to remain faithful to God. Could even be teenagers who are contemplating the purpose of their lives and living holy in a midst of a culture that encourages promiscuity.
In the Parable of the wedding banquet there is a great banquet and the virgins are awaiting for the master to arrive for the festivities to begin. This banquet signifies the union of Christ in the church. The banquets time and date are not known, but if you are not ready it will be too late when he arrives. The master expects his servants to minister to him upon his return. There are two groups of servants watchful and prepared or surprised by the arrival of the bridegroom. Dressed and lamps lit shows person who is ready for action and anticipating a great union.
In the Matthew 25 parable Jesus emphasis relationship and there is a completely different result for those who have no oil left. “And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.” – Matt 25:10. The foolish ones didn’t spent the time to bring extra oil. For believers This is precious time spent in fellowship, prayer, reading, worship, and the discipline of listening to God. How come they didn’t have enough oil? They didn’t take the time to bring extra! If we are not spending time filling our hearts with Gods truth, then what are we filling it with? The truth is if we’re not ready when Jesus returns the door is shut. They left to buy more oil, filling the lamps costs us something, but the reward is the wedding banquet. The union of Christ and the church! His loving arms welcome us now. Those who were caught sleeping would be scrambling to get their lamps ready to greet the master.
Faithful ones, who were expecting the masters return at any moment, would actually be served by the master upon his return.
Let’s take a look at the lamps from the Old Testament Law and instructions for the Tabernacle.
2 “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.
3 Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. – Leviticus 24:1-2
The lamps in Leviticus required them to be attended regularly. The people brought pure oil for the lamps to burn. For believers today this has two implications. That there is you duty in keeping the lamps lit continually. There was a purity required of the olive oil to keep the lamps burning. There is a purity required of christians to keep the metaphorical lamps burning. You cant just put anything in the lamps to make them burn. A pure oil made for a consistent and even light. Without it there was a flickering or an unsteady flame. When there is a lack of purity our a hesitation of holiness our flames yo-you back in forth between readiness and completely unprepared. This a place or a disciple. Don’t be caught going on a search to fill up in the moments before Christ return. Fill up now, well’s of living water await you.
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