Matthew 25:1-13 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 25:1-13 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 25"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Verse 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Verse 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; Verse 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. Verse 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. Verse 6But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Verse 7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. Verse 8The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' Verse 9But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' Verse 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Verse 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' Verse 12But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Verse 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Devotion
Everybody loves a wedding. All of the joy and happiness that we experience when we anticipate or attend a wedding, should be the same joy and happiness we experience when we encounter the kingdom of God. There is a special wisdom that belongs to those who await the kingdom that God offers to those who belong to Jesus. They await in eager readiness because they know that Jesus Christ turns all of the demands of God's law—our want to hear only the "thou shalt not"—into pure grace and mercy. In other words, in our brief existence we are supposed to have a good time as we await the kingdom with joy. How about that?
Prayer
God, thank you for this gift, this life, this love, this joy. Please help me, this day, to experience life as a pure, amazing joyful party. I can hardly wait. Amen.