40 Days of Easter 2011 Devotional

40 Days of Easter - March 28, 2011 Written by: Lisa Reece Being Prepared Matthew 25:1-13 Focal Verse: Matthew 25:10 This parable was written to help us prepare for Christ?s second coming. "Ten virgins were preparing to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise and carried extra oil for their lamps while the other 5 were foolish and did not take extra oil. The bridegroom was late. The 10 virgins became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight a cry rang out that the bridegroom was coming. All ten virgins jumped up to begin preparations for serving the bridegroom. The five wise virgins put more oil in their lamps while the five foolish had no extra oil. These 5 virgins were not prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom. They begged the wise ones for some but were refused. They were told to go buy some. While the five were gone to buy oil the bridegroom arrives. The five wise virgins went into the wedding banquet and the door was shut. Upon returning the 5 foolish virgins found the door closed and were not allowed into the wedding banquet." Being a Christian is more than receiving Jesus as Savior. It is about being Christ like everyday and showing our love for man just as Jesus did while on Earth. We must be ready to serve, minister, and tell about God and His wonderful Son that was sent to Earth to die on a cross. Jesus will come again one day as a bridegroom ready to take His church to Heaven. We do not know the hour or the day, but we know because He said He would return. We should all be prepared like the wise virgins. We cannot put off our work and wait until the last minute as the foolish virgins. We must be prepared each and everyday working to further God?s Kingdom so that all may attend the wedding banquet. Have you asked Jesus to come and live in your heart? If you have asked Jesus to be your Savior, are you serving Him daily as if He were coming back in the next 5 minutes? Dear Lord, I ask that you help me to live each and everyday as if you were going to arrive within the next few minutes. Help me to serve you through my work and not be idle watching and waiting for You. Amen