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Verse of the Day and Devotion

January 3, 2019

Scripture

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” – Matthew 25:13 NKJV

Devotion

Jesus told a parable about ten virgins. The virgins had lamps and were waiting to meet a bridegroom. Five of the virgins were wise and took enough oil for their lamps. Five of them were foolish and didn’t take enough oil. When the virgins heard that the bridegroom was coming, the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” The wise said, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.” While they went to buy the bridegroom came and the five wise virgins went in with him to the wedding and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:1-10)

When the foolish virgins returned they said, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” But He answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” (Matthew 25:11-12). That’s when Jesus summed up the point of the parable with the words of our verse for today: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

In the parable, Jesus is represented by the bridegroom and his second coming is represented by the wedding. The five foolish virgins represent people that aren’t ready for the second coming. The five wise virgins represent those that are ready. The oil represents the Holy Spirit.

The meaning of Jesus’ parable is clear. You have to watch and be ready. In the power of the Holy Spirit, you have to watch and be ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. It would not be too much to say that this is the whole point of life in the present era.

The problem with the foolish of the world is that they’re not ready. Although, like the foolish virgins, they may profess to be watching and waiting for the return of Jesus, their profession is insincere. (Matthew 7:21-23) They don’t have the oil of the Holy Spirit necessary to be ready. Instead of going about doing the business of the Lord in the power of the Spirit, they go about doing their own business in their own strength.

And furthermore, the parable teaches that when Christ returns (or death before it), it’s too late to get the Holy Spirit.

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