A Day-by-day devotional

March 27, 2023

Trim your lamp

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Joshua 23-24

Scripture of the Day: Matthew 25: 1-13

Since the Old Testament times, God has already been using parables to make people realize their mistakes, repent, turn away from sin, and reconcile with Him. For instance, God sent the prophet Nathan to King David with a parable about a lamb that has been stolen and offered (2 Samuel 12). Through this, David realized his sin and repented.

Likewise, Jesus is fond of using parables in his teachings. Through them, He shines light in people’s lives, enabling them to see their mistakes and turn back to God. These parables not only helped people back then to reflect in their lives. They are also very significant today.

One important parable that we need to be mindful of is that of the ten virgins. Five of them were wise, yet five were foolish. As the ten closest friends of the bride, they were tasked to carry the lamps on the street leading to the bride’s house where the groom would walk. Afterwards, they could join the week-long celebration of the wedding.

From the story we know that the five foolish women weren’t able to make it because they lacked oil. The lamps back in those days needed oil as fuel. The lamp is made up of a stone structure, hollow inside, containing a wick submerged in oil. The wick needs to be trimmed for maintenance and refilled with oil to keep burning.

When the groom arrived, the door was shut before them. In this life, we need to always be prepared for that which is our ultimate hope. Although we do not know when the groom (Jesus) will arrive (Second Coming), we know that He is going to come. A lot of people try to crack open the mystery of when He will come back. Nonetheless, He Himself said not even He knows the time. Only the Father knows when. Hence, instead of trying yo solve the mystery of when He will come back, why don’t we instead make ourselves busy with figuring out how we can prepare for His coming. We need to find ways how to be prepared. The time between now and His coming is critical in a Christian’s life. How do we help in the spread of the gospel? How do we encourage others to grow in their faith? How do we make use of our time between now and the days leading to His coming again?

We have to ensure that when that day comes, our lamps are trimmed, still burning as brightly as ever, so that we can make it to the banquet. I doubt that any of us would want to hear Jesus say, “I do not know you!” as the door is shut before us, because we were too late!

Reflection: Is your lamp still burning as brightly as when you first came to the faith?

Prayer: Keep my lamp burning, Lord, as I await your coming. Help me do as you would have me do in this lifetime. Amen.