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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Friday, August 19, 2022
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :The Parable of the Ten Virgins Bible Verse:Matthew 25:1-13 (ESV) "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." Message:
The setting of the parable makes more sense when we understand how weddings were conducted in ancient Israel. (And, in fact, weddings in rural Palestine were held the same way well into the 20th century.)
parable of ten virgins, wise and foolish, lamps and oil
The time was set to occur anytime within a week, and the bride would wait in the couple's new home. Nobody outside the family knew when it would occur; a bridegroom often played a game with the wedding party, trying to surprise them. Then, without warning, the groom would march to the bride (accompanied by men playing drums and shouting), and those who were in the party would have to scramble to join the parade. If he went at night, nobody could join the parade unless they had a light source. And when he arrived, the doors would soon be shut and locked until the ceremony and feast were complete.
Knowing this, the parable is easily understood. Christ is the bridegroom, and the virgins are the people of earth awaiting his coming like a wedding party. Those who prepare themselves for the coming of Christ will enter into the marriage feast, which is Christ’s kingdom. But those who do not prepare themselves, Christ will deny.
Because we do not know when Christ will come, we must prepare ourselves now, with daily prayer and the reading of God’s Word. We must at all times remember our belief in Christ and our faith in His resurrection, and we must honor Him with our praise. We must conform our hearts to the kingdom of heaven, and we must conform our actions to our hearts, “every day in every way”.
There are two separate lessons given about preparation. First, some things cannot be gotten at the last minute. Many of us, as students, discovered the hard way that learning all the material for a course becomes impossible if you wait too long.
Secondly, there are some things that cannot be borrowed. We cannot borrow a relationship with God. We conceive of grace and righteousness as things, because we need nouns to make sentences; but in truth, Christ’s grace is not a matter of possessing some thing at all. It is a matter of who we have become, not what we have.
Meditation : “The prayer offered to God in the morning during your quiet time is the key that unlocks the door of the day. Any athlete knows that it is the start that ensures a good finish.” Prayer : Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted me as a living member of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have blessed me with the grace of forgiveness through the sacrifice He made for me and for all people. Send me now into the world in peace, and grant me strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord......Amen |
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