DAY 84 of #100daysofJesus
In Jesus' parable of the ten virgins, He tells of ten virgins who awaited the bridegroom for wedding festivities to start. The bridegroom was running late, and the virgins fell asleep.
When the midnight cry came that the bridegroom approached, only five of the virgins had sufficient oil in their lamps to greet him. As they did not have enough to share, the other five left to find oil while the five prepared virgins were admitted into the party. The others were locked out.
This parable is intentionally harsh and should serve as a wakeup call for us. Jesus taught this parable to his disciples because the ten virgins represent believers or His disciples. Not all of us are prepared for His Second Coming the way we need to be.
The critical difference between the wise and foolish virgins is that the wise had prepared themselves by purchasing extra oil in case the bridegroom came later than expected. The foolish had failed to prepare. This is a a parable about preparation.
When the unprepared virgins are shut out, the KJV reads that the bridegroom answered them "I know you not." However, the Joseph Smith Translation corrects this to read "ye know me not."
The lack of preparation on their part was a failure to know Jesus.
What efforts are we making to become more acquainted with and connected to Jesus Christ?
How are we preparing our spiritual lamps to have sufficient oil?
In the Doctrine & Covenants, the Lord says that those who "are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived . . . shall abide [that] day” of His Second Coming.
How are we inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives to be our guide?
Spencer W Kimball taught that "in our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living."
As the foolish virgins learned, there won't be time to run to the market to buy oil when the bridegroom arrives.
As we welcome in a new year today, let us recommit ourselves to the spiritual preparation needed to be ready for Jesus' return. Let us remember that it's through the small and simple things that great ones are brought to pass.
Take the small steps of daily preparation this year.
(Matthew 25:1-13, D&C 45:57, https://bookofmormoncentral.org/blog/new-video-to-help-you-learn-about-the-parable-of-the-ten-virgins)
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