The Wise Take Time to Prepare

Scripture: Matthew 25: 1-4

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Scripture Commentary: Are you wise or foolish?

Matthew 25 tells us to be prepared because Jesus Christ is coming. What about you – are you prepared?

If Jesus came today and asked you what have you done in His name, how will you answer? Have you fed the poor, visited the sick, helped someone in need or prayed for someone?

In John 14:3 Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.” Help others. Show love. We are responsible for each other.

You will give an account on judgement day.

Jesus gives us the parable of the 10 virgins. Five came prepared, and five did not. The bridegroom took those who were ready to the wedding banquet, and he told the others when they returned that he didn’t know them.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 25

Additional Reading:
John Chapter 14

Judas Let Himself Be Used by Satan

Scripture: Matthew 27: 3-5

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Scripture Commentary: All of us have been in Judas’ shoes

How many times have we said or done something that we regret and wished we could have taken it back? If we truly think of the consequences of our actions before we say or do something, we wouldn’t do it. All of us are like Judas at some point.

Judas allowed Satan to use him. Consequently, we place ourselves in Satan’s hands when we let him use us.

Judas returned the silver to the priest but they refused to take it back and free Jesus. Therefore, they, too, became Satan’s instruments.

When we let ourselves slip into doing the wrong thing, we become like Judas. The Word – The Bible – shows us right from wrong, and the path to follow. It gives us the direction to travel, and all we have to do is follow God.

Forgive and forget. Love and help one another. Don’t be a hindrance. Ask “What would Jesus Do?”

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 27

They That Were Ready Went In With Him

Scripture: Matthew 25: 6- 10

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Scripture Commentary: Will you be ready when the time comes?

God has planned a banquet for us … and He sent each of us an invitation to attend. Sadly, we won’t all be there. Are you ready? Why not? Because not everyone has read the instructions for how to get to the banquet.

Where are these instructions? The instructions – the roadmap – is The Bible.

The instructions are easy to understand. In Matthew 25, He gives us three parables to help us find our way. These parables tell of three separate stories of joy, foolishness and judgment.

The first parable tells of ten virgins. Five are prepared and ready to go with the bridegroom; five are not and as a result, they are not able to go to the wedding banquet.

In the second parable, a master entrusts his money to three of his servants. When he returns, the servants must give an account of what they did with the money.

Lastly God tells us how it will be when the Son of Man sits on His throne in heavenly glory. He asks a number of questions: did you feed me, give me drink, clothe me, or visit me when I was sick or in prison?

What will be your answer?

Will you be in the group that He tells, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire”? Or will you be part of the group that He tells to “take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world”?

God loves you, and He has shown you the way to eternal life with Him. Spiritual preparation cannot be bought or borrowed.

Our relationship with God must be our own.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 25

I Once Was Lost But Now Am Found

Scripture: Luke 15: 6-7

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Scripture Commentary: I Have Found What Was Lost

The parables in Luke illustrate that God is forgiving. Luke 15 takes us through the parables where there is a lost son, sheep and coin. Each parable illustrates the joy we feel when we have found what was lost.

We have all gone astray. We feel much joy when we return and accept Jesus as Our Lord and Savior. God loves us and feels much joy when we return to Him. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to earth to save us and to give us direct access to Him.

Just as the shepherd, the woman, and the father in the parables rejoiced on finding what was lost, all of heaven rejoices over the return of a repentant sinner.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 15

And I Heard A Voice From Heaven

Scriptures: Revelation 14: 13 and John 5: 24

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. (Revelation)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John)

Scripture Commentary: Will you hear Christ’s voice on judgment day?

Is the Lord Jesus Christ your Savior? Death has no hold on you if He is your Savior. You are free from death if you have placed God first – not money, fame, and belongings that you can’t take with you.

Christ, on judgment day, will separate the faithful from the unfaithful. Physical death is inevitable but when Jesus Christ returns, that sleeping body of yours will be resurrected to live forever with Him. If you are a Christian, you will hear His voice on that day and your spirit will rise.

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior? You face eternity apart from Him if you have not accepted Him.

Do not be one of those who thinks death is the end. It is the beginning. Jesus paid the price to save you.

You will face judgment. What will be the outcome?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Revelation Chapter 14
John Chapter 5

Jesus Fulfilled the Prophecy as King

Scripture: Matthew 12: 17-21

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Scripture Commentary:

The people in Jesus’ time expected the Messiah to be a king. They forgot the prophecy detailing the kind of king He would be. The Book of Isaiah showed the king to be a quiet, gentle ruler who brought justice to the nations. Although Jesus fulfilled the prophecy, the people were looking for the big bang.

Like the crowd in Jesus’ day, we may want Christ to rule as a king orchestrating great and visible victories in our lives. Do not look for the big bang miracle. Look at your life and see what Jesus has done for you. You are the big bang! You are the miracle!

God created you, He loves you, and He lets His light shine in and on you. He gave His only begotten son for you.

Are you working in His name? Have you told anyone about Our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for you?

Let Jesus into your life, and feel and see the love He has for you. Get down on your hands and knees and thank Him for His goodness.

God loves you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 12

Additional Reading on the Prophecy of the King:
Isaiah Chapter 42

When He Saw Their Faith, He Answered Their Prayer

Scripture: Luke 5: 18-20

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Scripture Commentary: When Jesus saw their faith, He made the man whole

How far would you go to help someone? What would you do to lead a friend, enemy, or anyone to Jesus? If someone hurt you, would you, being a Christian, help him/her come to know Jesus?

If God will forget your sins and forgive you, can you do the same?

The man in Luke 5 was not able to do anything for himself. He had people who cared enough for him to go the extra step to get him to Jesus. They had faith that Jesus could heal, and the man had faith also. After all, if they did not have faith, why put forth so much effort to get their friend to Jesus?

If we say we have faith in God then we are to do God’s work. That means we are to forgive, forget, help, lead, spread the Word of God, teach and love one another.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 5

Obey The Gospel And Let the Lord Save You

Scripture: 1 Peter 4: 17-19

For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinners appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Scripture Commentary: God is faithful and we can count on Him

A life of sin and indulgence in earthly desires can only unfold in the house of Satan. The ungodly will spend eternity in Satan’s house if they do not repent and ask for forgiveness.

We are all sinful by nature. We constantly go against God and not everyone recognizes their wrong ways. Not everyone repents. God allows believers to sin for the experience of consequences. God forgives those who sincerely repent. Allowing us to sin shows us our potential to do wrong. The experience encourages us to return to God. Smaller sins strengthen us against bigger temptations and condition us to truly trust in Him. If we know God will stand by us in the drizzle, we are more likely to rely on him in the storm.

If Christians need discipline from God, how much more will those who do not obey the gospel need to receive? It’s not quantifiable. Only God’s mercy saves us. People who reject Christ still have a chance at eternal life through repentance. We know God is faithful and we can count on Him to fulfill his promise to us. He will always welcome us home, as long as we are willing to do what is required to be in his kingdom.

We must follow this as a path to salvation:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind, and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Peter Chapter 4

Jesus Delivered Us and Teaches Us Love

Scripture: Romans 7: 4-6, 9

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus’ grace and mercy delivered us

Before you came to Christ there were times in your life when you felt you were in a good place, doing the right thing. From where you stand now you know you were wrong. Has your husband or wife ever hurt you? Did you feel you had to hurt them back? Did you think revenge was justice?

We are constantly hurting God, but He does not throw us away or hurt us. God forgives us, loves us, and helps us to understand what love is. Being born again takes a moment of faith, a moment God undoubtedly sees. Becoming like Christ is a lifelong process, and God will stand by to help us.

We were unspiritual in our previous lives; sold as slaves to the law of the land, to sin. But Jesus – because of his grace and mercy – delivered us. With Jesus Christ, sin has no hold on us. Sin is always waiting. We will struggle like Paul, but with the strength of Jesus (not ours, but His) we can make it. We can serve God, not by a set of rules, but out of renewed hearts and love for Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 7

Let Your Name Be in the Lamb’s Book of Life

Scripture: Revelation 21: 4-6, 27

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.(4-6) And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.(27)

Commentary: God wrote His children’s names in the Lamb’s book of life

The Holy City of the new Jerusalem is where God wipes every tear from your eyes. Forevermore, there will be no death, pain, sorrow, and crying. God has written the final chapter, and it is about fulfillment and eternal joy for those who love him.

You can’t get to heaven because of your works, background, personality and good behavior. Consequently, eternal life is available to you only because of what Jesus Christ, the Lamb, has done.

You choose to be either with God or with Satan. God tells us what to do to be with Him so that we do not end up in hell.

He paid for our sins with His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. As a result, we can enter into heaven and be with God for eternity. His love for us has made this possible. Eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine here on earth.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Revelation Chapter 21