Keep Watching

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

KEEP WATCHING 

Matt 25:1-13

25:1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

NIV

Once again, the whole parable is about the “Therefore keep watch”. This time it is about making sure we are ready for when Jesus shows up. Is there some significance to the keeping enough oil for our lamps as the wise virgins did? Is there something special about the fact Jesus used the term virgins who when out to meet the bridegroom? First, we think the term virgin represents the church, although not the building but all believers who are called the church or the bride of Christ. The reason Jesus refers to us as virgins, it is because we are supposed to be pure and holy. A virgin keeps herself pure and holy for the time she is to be with her bridegroom. No bridegroom would what to take a harlot as his wife and so we should be careful to take enough oil for our lamps so and in doing so remain pure and holy. This would also imply that we should not be having any casual relationship with the world, or we could say, having an affair with the world. Once again, this comes down to not being able to have two husbands or serving two masters. We have but one bridegroom and He is Jesus Christ, and we must be ready for his coming for us. Again, because it has been a while since he told his disciples this parable and many through the ages wanted and hoped that Jesus would come in their lifetime, it is imperative we maintain that same hope and wait for him to come within our lifetime. If we become lacks in our attention to the amount of oil we have our lamp may go out, which could imply the light that we are supposed to be. Jesus calls us to be the light of the world, and that we are not to hide our light under the table, but to put it on a lampstand so that all can see it and find their way. If our lamp goes out, if we are not being the light of the world because we have become indifferent or apathetic toward our walk with Jesus in our daily life, we will not be ready for his coming. If we are so involved in the affairs of this world, have we forgotten to take enough oil? Of course, we have to work for our substance, that is a command of God, actually a result of Adam’s unbelief, but work is not our life, nor it should be. Our work is not what defines who we are, or should it become our reason for life or our resource for the future. Jesus is everything and He is our present and our future, therefore we will keep watching for we do not know the hour or the day of his coming for us. We are ready!