PARABLES - WEEK FIVE - DAY ONE
Hello and welcome to your Daily Devos, following our Parables series at 29:11!
Take some time today to read through the provided scriptures, meditate on the lessons we’ve learned this week, and journal your prayers. Have an amazing week, 29:11 Church!
THEME SCRIPTURE:
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
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
TODAY’S PASSAGE:
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. The word rapture comes from the latin word rapt, which means “caught away” or “caught up” - which is exactly what Paul describes. First, there will be a resurrection of the followers of Christ that have already passed. Their spirit will be reunited with their body in its new and imperishable form. These glorified bodies resemble the resurrected body of Jesus after he conquered the grave.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
REFLECTION:
Have you ever been caught with your pants down? Hopefully, it’s only been metaphorically, but getting caught in a situation where you aren’t prepared is never fun! I remember a time at work when I had to give a presentation in front of the entire staff. I was supposed to guide our team through the upcoming events for the next week and year, but I had neglected to gather all the necessary information. In a rush, I fumbled through the calendar, trying my best to communicate while unprepared. It was not great. I was stressed, the staff was confused, and I even gave some incorrect information that someone had to point out in front of everyone. It was awkward! I got caught with my pants down—unprepared and unready!
As Christians, we are called to be ready. There is a truth about our faith: at some point, we will be called back to the Father. The Bible clearly states that we will not know the day or the hour. The parable of the ten virgins delivers a simple message: BE READY! We need to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. Our lives should reflect a constant readiness for God. This means we must start chasing after God with everything we have now, not later. We need to pursue grace and love, holiness and righteousness, and faith in Jesus. This is not a pursuit of perfection but of closeness with the Father.
THOUGHTS TO PONDER:
Are you ready? Are you prepared? Ask yourself: if Christ returned today, would you be ready? Take some time to pray and ask God how you can be ready for Him at all times. Write down three things you can do this week to be more prepared.
