Stand Prepared

Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise.   

The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them,  while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps.   

The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep.

 

“It was already midnight when the cry rang out, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!’   

The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps.  Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’   

‘No, indeed,’ the wise ones answered, ‘there is not enough for you and for us. 

Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.’   

So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. 

The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed.

Matthew 25:1-13

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

While there is still time,
kneel
before the Lord.
The virgins are ready
with oil for their lamps.
Be focused now,
while the grass is still green,
soon it will wither
and be blown away as dust.

There are those,
striding through their days
without a single word
of prayer,
concerned only for the world
and its pleasures.
Where will they be
when they are struck down
by the same world
they worship?

While there is still time,
bow
your heads in humility.
Jesus took every stain
on your flesh
and wiped it clean.
The oil for your lamp
is in abundance,
stand prepared,
bask in His radiant light.



copyright 2017 - Donald P James Jr