Luke 12:37
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (KJV)

Is your lamp lit?

There is a parable in the Bible of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. In it, the virgins waited for the bridegroom to come. This parable emphasizes the importance of preparing for the second coming of Christ and being ready. The ten virgins represent all of those who profess faith in Jesus and who believe He is soon to return. The lamps they are holding represent the Word of God. And the oil in their lambs symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 25:1-2 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish [thoughtless, silly, and careless], and five were wise [far-sighted, practical, and sensible]”. (AMP)

As you evaluate your life, what group do you fit into? Are you in the foolish group?
Matthew 25:3,8 For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them. 8 But the foolish virgins said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ (AMP)

Could it be that you are in the wise group?
Matthew 25:4,9 But the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps. 9 But the wise replied, ‘No, otherwise there will not be enough for us and for you, too; go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.’ (AMP)

Jesus is going to return.
Matthew 25:5 Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! The bridegroom [is coming]! Go out to meet him.’ (AMP)

What is the lesson here?

• You need to be ready, not just be getting ready.
  Matthew 25:7, 10 Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order [trimmed the wicks and added oil and lit them]. 10 But while they were going away to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut and locked. (AMP)

• Being ready gets you in. When you are unprepared, you get left out.
  Matthew 25:11 Later the others also came, and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open [the door] for us.’ (AMP)

• Don’t wait until the appointed time to evaluate your relationship.
  Matthew 25:12 But He replied, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I do not know you [we have no relationship].’ (AMP)

• There is an appointed time.
  Matthew 25:13 Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come]. (AMP)

You are the bride Jesus is coming for. Will you be trying to tie up loose ends or will you be ready?

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I thank You for always  prompting me to evaluate my life. I want to be ready when You return. I don’t want to live as if I’ve got time to get it together. I want to be watching, waiting, and anticipating Your return. I want plenty of oil in my lamp and extra oil to keep my lamp from going out. Fill me and fill me again and again. I recognize the oil I need is not the kind I can buy from the store. The Holy Spirit presses this oil from my life as He teaches me and guides me. Every situation that knocked me to my knees produced oil, temptations, oil, trials, more oil. Friends who are untrue, family challenges, anything sent by the enemy to pull me away from my covenant path, even more oil. My relationship with You and my love for You produces the sweetest smelling savor there is, as I burn my oil in worship. Continue to work in me and I will have oil to keep my lamp lit until Your return…

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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.