View the devo: https://bit.ly/4eeDTBT
25:1 “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 NIV)
"Mom, I've got a splinter in my hand!" It was the final confession or rather admission, that Mom would have to perform her needed surgery on my splinter. "Go get what I need," she would ask, and I knew to bring the straight pin needle, tweezers, alcohol or a match. If we were out of alcohol, Mom would light the match and hold the needle in the flame until it was almost glowing a sign that iw as now clean. Then my closing my eyes and hoping for a quick removal of said splinter, Mom would begin her surgery. She was a master surgeon, usually starting tenderly and gently a pulling back the epidermal layers to reach the uninvited intruder and lifting it up sufficiently so that the tweezers would reach and remove the dreaded splinter and I could resume my day of play. I knew better than to forget any of the above stated items. To not have all the utensils would mean a possible botched removal of splinters, and not a joyful celebration. We just read a story about essential items needed for for a solid life in Christ.
Let’s be honest: nobody wants to be the person who shows up to the party without the one thing they were supposed to bring. We’ve all been there. The forgotten casserole dish. The dead phone at the airport. The “I swear I packed my charger.”
Jesus tells a story about ten bridesmaids waiting for a bridegroom, and it turns out that what they forgot was a little more serious than a casserole. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. All ten took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. All ten looked ready. But the foolish ones took no extra oil with them, while the wise ones brought flasks of oil along with their lamps.
Then the bridegroom is delayed, and every one of them dozes off. I find that oddly comforting. Notice that Jesus doesn’t scold anyone for falling asleep. The wise ones napped too! The difference wasn’t who stayed awake. It was who was prepared.
At midnight comes the cry: “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” Suddenly everyone is scrambling to trim their lamps. The foolish five realize theirs are going out and ask the others to share. The wise ones answer that there isn’t enough for both, and they send the others off to buy some. Picture it: five bridesmaids sprinting through town at midnight, hunting for an oil vendor who is, shockingly, closed. While they’re gone, the bridegroom arrives, the ready ones go in with Him to the wedding banquet, and the door is shut.
When the others come back and plead, “Lord, open the door for us!”, His reply is sobering: “I don’t know you.” Then Jesus closes the story with the point of it all: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
So what is the oil? Jesus doesn’t spell it out, but the heart of the parable is clear. Oil can’t be borrowed at the last minute, and it can’t be faked. It’s the real, ongoing, personal relationship with Jesus that you build in ordinary, unglamorous days. It’s the quiet prayers, the time in His Word, the small daily choices to trust Him. You can’t cram for it the night before, and nobody else can fill your flask for you.
And here’s the gentle invitation tucked inside the warning: it’s never too early to start topping off the lamp. You don’t need a dramatic spiritual overhaul. You just need to keep showing up to Him, day after day, so that when the moment comes, you’re not scrambling. You’re simply ready, and glad.
The wise bridesmaids weren’t anxious, frantic, or glued to the horizon. They were calm enough to take a nap! That’s what a prepared heart looks like: restful, steady, and sure of the One who is coming.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, fill my heart with a steady, living love for You each day so that I am ready and rejoicing when You come, in Christ Jesus’ strong name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Today, set aside ten unhurried minutes with Jesus, and think of it as filling your lamp.
I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me. You are eseential to Jesus in who you share your love.
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
