NOVEMBER 09 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” (Matthew 24:45)

NOVEMBER 09  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45)

LIVING FOR JESUS - Daily Prayer    

JESUS, praise be Your Name, my God, my Redeemer. Lord Jesus, I thank You that on this journey You have placed messengers along my path and I pray that You will grant me understanding, wisdom, and good discernment of who the messengers are and what is the message that You have sent with Your messenger to help me on my journey to eternity. Lord today as I awoke, the thought hit me that I need to pray more intently to You, to spend more time in prayer just talking to You and then the thought of God the Father describing His Messiah as “the chief cornerstone” gave me the idea to study in depth all of God’s descriptions of the Messiah in the Old Testament and use them to draw a picture of You in the New Testament — Lord Jesus I pray for Your Wisdom and Light to guide me through Your Word that I may point others to You!!!   AMEN

NOVEMBER 09  THE JESUS QUESTIONS

Jesus is Teaching about the “responsibility” that goes along with the “privilege” of “THE MASTER” choosing us to be “His own servants” in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and is a complimentary Lesson to being “a faithful and wise servant” Jesus had just Taught in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) and these two parables are book-end Lessons for The Jesus Question JQ#31-25 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45). Jesus begins the Parable of the Talents by introducing the concept of the “man [the master] traveling to a far country” leaving “his own servants” in charge of all “his goods”. Jesus begins the responsibility-Lesson of “THE MASTER” having “delivered his [the master’s] goods to [his own servants]” as Jesus starts the Parable of the Talents with: “And to one [servant] he [the master] gave five talents, to another two and to another one, to each according to [the servant’s] own ability; and immediately he [the master] went on a journey.” (Matthew 25:15) As is the modus operandi of the MASTER TEACHER Jesus introduces not just one but several very important concepts contained with His introductory statement so let us look at these concepts individually — (1) the master is giving “talents” to his servants which means that the master will make provision for “his own servants” before leaving the servant in charge (2) the master is wise enough to give each servant “according to his own ability” and (3) the master gives “his own servants” their provisions and then leaves them to live up to their responsibility! It is implied that THE MASTER is leaving but WILL RETURN for an ACCOUNTING (Final Judgment) of everyone but especially for “his own servants”  ACTIONS!!! I know that sometimes {most often} I do not “desire” the “responsibility” but I “want” to enjoy the “master’s” goods — it sure looks like there is a lot to learn in the Parable of the Talents but “we must first be willing to listen” to “THE MASTER”!!!!!

NOVEMBER 08 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” (Matthew 24:45)

NOVEMBER 08  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45)

LIVING FOR JESUS - Daily Prayer    

JESUS, You Lord are Master of the Universe, all Praise, Glory, and Honor to Your Holy Name. Your Word O Lord, I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee. Lord Jesus, I lift up my life to you in a new way today, as my Faith builds day by day I cannot but be amazed and humbled by the working of the Holy Spirit in my life. I pray Lord that my growth spiritually will continue until one day my life, my thoughts, everything that I am will be nothing but the Holy Spirit. Lord, I Praise You for the opportunity to witness  Your Life with my life, grant it that the testimony of my life will be a Light for those struggling with the darkness. Forgive me where I fall short of Your Perfection and cover me with Your Righteousness.   AMEN

NOVEMBER 08  THE JESUS QUESTIONS

Jesus again reveals God the Father and His expectations for those that accept His Invitation to live eternally with Him in “the kingdom of heaven” as Jesus first Teaches the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) and the Lesson of being a “faithful and wise servant” and then Jesus Teaches the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and we get a glimpse of The Master’s expectations and provisions for “his own servants”. Jesus introduces the Parable of the Talents, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.” (Matthew 25:14) Let us now look at the common elements of all the Lessons and the Teaching Question Jesus is using in this section - (1) In His Teaching Question (Matthew 24:45) Jesus informs us that the “faithful and wise servant” is “made ruler over his household” by the “master” (2) In the Parable of the Ten Virgins the “wise virgins [bridesmaids/servants of the bride]” were watching for the “bridegroom [master]” and because they were “prepared/wise/and watchful for the master” they “went in with him” (3) In the Parable of the Talents “the man traveling to a far country/[Master]” gives “his goods” to “his own servants”. These common elements point us to the Truth of God that He is The Master and by Serving Him faithfully that we will be made “rulers” and gain access to His Kingdom and “all His Goods”. When I realize that if I “serve God” faithfully that I will have unrestricted access to everything in God’s Creation, there is a whole different perspective gained when I consider the advantages of “serving others” instead of trying to manipulate them! — Do you think that this is what Jesus is trying to teach us??? There is something difficult from a worldly perspective to understanding that the path to “honor” is through “humility” and if we want to be “sovereign” then we must first learn “servitude” !?!?!?!?  The other unusual thought that these Lessons generate in my mind is similar to my boyhood fantasy of getting three wishes when I rubbed the genie’s lamp, yet I struggled to make sure I made “Wise Wishes” and did not miss that great (but unreal) opportunity and now when I study God’s Word and look at the Promise of God that if I “serve Him” that I will get more than all the worldly wishes I could gain by rubbing that pretend lamp a million times — and with these Jesus Lessons I am reminded that I must “be wise and faithful in serving Him” and thereby I gain the “Favor of The Father” and GOD WILL “deliver His Goods” and ALL that HE HAS to me!?!?!?!? The more we learn of God the more we will “RESPECT GOD” and through our “RESPECT of THE MASTER” we are walking the path of “humility and faithful service” — truly a win-win-win scenario — and truly a “heavenly” destination!!!

NOVEMBER 07 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” (Matthew 24:45)

NOVEMBER 07  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45)

LIVING FOR JESUS - Daily Prayer    

JESUS, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, from everlasting to everlasting, all praise and honor to the Lamb who is worthy! Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, both men and angels shall declare that You are the LORD! Jesus, I pray for the sweet peace that can only come by our yielding to Your Call through the Holy Spirit to “Come”  — “Come” to You, “Come” follow You, “Come” and enter Your Rest, O Lord I “Come” just as I am — O Precious Jesus, what a blessing to think that the Lord of lords would call a sinner such as I to Repentance and then request that I “Come” to Your Precious Bleeding Side and be showered by Your Grace and Mercy! Grant it Lord that I yield completely and abandon my “self” to Your Call and that I will simply “COME”!!!         AMEN

NOVEMBER 07  THE JESUS QUESTIONS

Jesus has transitioned from a Lesson on “preparedness” of “faithful and wise servants” which He Taught in the Parable of the Ten Virgins and now Jesus is Teaching of the responsibilities and duties of those that would be “[His] own servant” as Jesus Teaches the Parable of the Man Traveling to a Far Country: “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.” (Matthew 25:14) What is common to both parables is that they involve “servants” that are responsible to “The Master” — the Ten Virgins were to watch for the “Bridegroom” and to help prepare for the “Wedding Feast” and with the Parable of the Man Traveling to a Far Country the term “his own servants” makes it clear that the parable is based on the relationship between the “Master” and “his own servants”, therefore before we can learn from the Lesson we must search our own hearts and our desires and expectations and deal with whatever feelings that the thought of being someone’s “servant” draws to the surface of our emotions and self-realization!? When I began my “Journey to Find Truth” I did not expect that my path would lead me through “Servitude and Suffering” but fortunately I was not blinded by my personal aversion to being called a “servant” but I have since learned that being a “servant”  to a “Good Master” is far superior to being the “master of your [own] soul” and steering that soul into disaster on the sea of life! There is much to learn about “serving” well that applies more to being a “Good Master” ourselves than one might believe, the Holy Scriptures Teach us  that being the “MASTER” is a heavier burden than most weak souls like mine can bear! Personally I was initially repulsed by the thought of sitting around on a cloud all day throughout eternity and playing a harp and singing “Kumbaya My Lord” but as I learned more about “My Lord” and “My Master” I have gained a greater “Respect” for what “Great Sacrifice” that had to be made by THE FATHER AND THE SON to truly deserve the title “Lord and Master”!!! I have now arrived at the point in my Journey that I am thrilled at the prospect that “The Master” has called an unworthy soul such as I to “serve Him” and I take great comfort from knowing that being “The Master’s Servant” elevates me to a position greater than I expected were I to be king of the whole earth! There is much to learn about being “[The Master’s] own servant” and that is why Jesus Teaches these parables and has lived His own life to reveal “our Father in Heaven” who IS “THE MASTER” and “KING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH”!!! Just imagine being king of a wasteland of despair and then consider what lofty position and wonderful environment that comes with the territory and title of being “THE MASTERS own servant” !?!?!?!? Once your vision of “THE MASTER” is clear, you can better see the advantages of being “HIS servant” — it’s all a matter of perspective and the TRUTH OF GOD is that only you can see through your own eyes therefore your perspective is your own responsibility and only your own perspective can open your own eyes to the “honor” of “serving well” — once again Jesus gives us an option and then reveals God the Father by giving us a CHOICE of following “our will of self” or to concede to God the Father as Jesus did, “Nevertheless, not [my] will but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42)  

NOVEMBER 06 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” (Matthew 24:45)

NOVEMBER 06  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45)

LIVING FOR JESUS - Daily Prayer    

JESUS, Thou art Holy as is the Father and the Holy Ghost and You have declared that we are to follow You and to be Holy ourselves but Lord I find there are times when I find myself “spiritually” weak and I selfishly think that I need more than just following You, that somehow my “faith” is not sufficient ——— I need You Lord and the Holy Spirit to be active in my life as I am active in my pursuit to know the Father, for without Your Grace and Infilling of the Spirit in our daily lives we regress into our worldly ways and evil thoughts that take us away from God as we recoil from the Light and pull the covers up over our heads and bury our minds in the sands of darkness — then the Holy Spirit gently reminds me that “waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief” (See Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest” DECEMBER 6) — forgive me Lord of all my shortcomings and worldly ways and I pray to be filled with Your Love. Please give us the strength and discipline to be “faithful and wise servants” for You and the kingdom’s sake and not hide in our worldly-selfishness but to serve others unselfishly in Your Name!   AMEN

THE JESUS QUESTIONS

Jesus started His Parable of the Ten Virgins “preparedness” Lesson with “THEN the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to…” (Matthew 25:1) and ended the parable with “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:13) The Parable of the Ten Virgins then addresses details of the first part of the Jesus Question “Who then is a faithful and wise servant…” and now Jesus is going to give us a Lesson in the responsibilities of being “…made ruler over [our] household, to give [our household] food in due season…” (Matthew 24:45) God never requires anything from us that He has not given us instructions for and He has already made provisions for us — for example: God freed Israel from their bondage in Egypt and led them to the “Promised Land” that was already “flowing with milk and honey” and they were to inhabit cities already built and fully supplied with materials — so if God is going to require the “ruler of the household” to give “[the members of the household] food in due season” then God will provide for them as well as giving them instructions which Jesus is doing as He Teaches another parable which He starts like the last parable, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.” (Matthew 25:14)  This “man traveling to a far country” sounds exactly like God is “the master” and God has made “his own servant” the “ruler over the household” and God has provided the “ruler” with the necessary provisions [“delivered his goods to [the ruler]” in order for the “ruler to give [the household] food in due season.”  So we can be confident that Jesus is going to reveal another Truth of God and give us instructions on how to use the provisions God gives us and to use those provisions to provide for our “household” and to have confidence that necessary provisions will arrive in their “due season”! So let us look at the start of this new parable again and observe that the “man traveling to a far country” means the man is going to leave “his own servants” but is making provision for them [“delivered his goods to”] while he is gone — but without reading ahead, if this parable is instruction details for the Teaching Question “Who then is a faithful and wise servant” then at the end of the parable we can expect the “man traveling to a far country” that at a later date  “HE WILL RETURN” and check to see what “his own servants” have accomplished with the provisions that He has “delivered…to [his own]”!!! This parable in conjunction with the last parable should make us realize the Truth of God that if we want to be “rulers” that we must first be  a “SERVANT TO THE MASTER” and we should ask ourselves the ultimate Question: “Am I willing to SERVE GOD in the manner that He requires of “HIS OWN SERVANTS” and live up to the responsibility that comes with God making you a ‘ruler’?”?!?!?!?!?!? If you cannot come to the conclusion that being a “servant” to God the Father is far better than being a king in the world, then you are well on the way to a day that “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” — just saying — after all it is YOUR CHOICE — but “CHOOSE WISELY” — and that may mean you will need a “servant’s heart” to hear THE MASTER!!!

NOVEMBER 05 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” (Matthew 24:45)

NOVEMBER 05  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45)

LIVING FOR JESUS - Daily Prayer    

JESUS, just one more day — “TODAY” — let me walk each “TODAY” that You give me according to Your Ways and follow Your Commandments to Love God with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind, and then each day I will Love others as You have Loved me!  May the Holy Spirit fill my temple with praise that I may truly worship the Holy One. Lord, I am waiting on You Lord Jesus, I seek Your Face and Your Righteousness. Let my every desire be a desire for You. It is only through Your Grace and Mercy that I have any reason to live another “TODAY” — All Praise, Glory, and Honor to the Only Begotten of the Father, Jesus Christ!   AMEN

NOVEMBER 05  THE JESUS QUESTIONS

Jesus is Teaching around the Question, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant…” and He began this Lesson following His discourse on the “Great Tribulation” and the “sign of the Son of Man” appearing in the clouds. Jesus said that the Son of Man will “send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and [His angels] will gather together His elect…” (Matthew 24:29-31) Therefore the context of this Lesson on being a “faithful and wise servant” has to do with the “Son of Man” and the time frame then is AFTER the “Great Tribulation”. Jesus first said, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree…” (Matthew 24:32-33) and then when the sign of the fig tree has occurred Jesus promised, “Assuredly, I say to you…Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Matthew 24:34-35) So far Jesus lists these events: {1} The world will witness the “Abomination of Desolation” (Matthew 24:15) described in Daniel 7:8 and Revelation 19:20 followed by {2} The “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:22) and then the {3} “sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven” (Mathew 24:29-31) and then after listing these three events, Jesus starts the “faithful and wise servant”  Lessons with “this parable from the fig tree” (Matthew 24:32-33) which includes the warning that when the sign of the fig tree is completed that “Heaven and earth will pass away…” (Matthew 24:24-35) Jesus, being the Master Teacher then gives us details of being a “faithful and wise servant”  much like we read in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”  and then we get details of that creation in the following chapters so Jesus is doing the same thing with the Lesson on being a “faithful and wise servant”  first by a parable about the fig tree, declaring heaven and earth will pass away, and then Jesus declares “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) Jesus explains the warning, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44) followed immediately with His Teaching Question, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45) Jesus then praises the “faithful and wise servant”  but the servants that were not doing as the master had commanded, Jesus called them “evil servant(s)” who when the “master of that servant [comes] on a day when the [evil servant] is not looking for the [master’s return] that the [master] will cut [the evil servant] in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:46-51) Jesus immediately gives more details about being a “faithful and wise servant”  as He Teaches the Parable of the Ten Virgins in which Jesus stated that “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to…” and then makes it clear that there is a time when all those “prepared” for His Return will go in with Him to His Home and the “door [will be] shut” behind them, but those that were “unprepared at the time [Then]” of His Return will be turned away from the door as Jesus concludes the “preparedness” Lesson: “Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:1-13) Jesus has been consistent in describing the event triggered by the “Son of Man” and at the time of HIS RETURN that all His “faithful and wise servant(s)”  will be “ready” and “[all will] go in with Him to the wedding”. There is great discussion about “when” the “Son of Man will Return” but there is no question whatsoever that HE IS“COMING AGAIN”!!!  Jesus Christ, in His Mercy and Grace, is giving us every opportunity to “GET READY” just like Jesus told His disciples and followers:  “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”  (Luke 21:36)  Now that would be considered a “faithful and wise servant”  don’t you think?!?!?!!?

NOVEMBER 04 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” (Matthew 24:45)

NOVEMBER 04  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45)

LIVING FOR JESUS - Daily Prayer    

JESUS, Lord help me to surrender myself completely to you. I have no particular desire except to serve You honorably and faithfully, it is the Best and Only choice in my life and I would not want to go back and change anything for today I am here with You and that is all that truly matters!  Lord, I feel the Spirit telling me that I am almost in the right spiritual frame of mind about “self” and “service” so Lord complete the good work You have started and then teach me how to “pour out” myself each and every day as a “drink offering” unto the LORD, that I may be a blessing to You by being a blessing to those that You place around me, by sharing Your Spirit with their “needs” that only the Christ can meet!   AMEN

NOVEMBER 04  THE JESUS QUESTIONS

Jesus is using the Parable of the Ten Virgins to show us the Truth of God that there is a “PLAN” and this parable Teaches us there will be a time when God, the KING OF HEAVEN who has “arranged a marriage” (Matthew 22:2) for His Son, has sent His “servants” to invite the guests to the wedding feast (Matthew 22:3), will declare that all preparations for the wedding has been made and “the wedding is ready” (Matthew 22:8) and God will send Jesus to get His Bride. Jesus declared “In My Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself…” (John 14:2-3) <<That sounds a lot like the “groom” coming to get his “bride” and take her to the “home” that he has prepared for her!>> There are several arguments about who the “Bride of Christ” is but let us not be distracted by names nor over semantics — God clearly has “arranged a marriage” and when all the preparations are complete, God will commence with the ceremony!!!  Remember that the ceremony will occur when God decides the “preparations are complete” —— and with His Word, God is giving everyone a chance to “prepare” themselves with the proper “wedding garments” (Matthew 22:12) and to keep oil in our lamps to watch expectantly as Jesus Himself announced, “Therefore you also be [ready], for the [Bridegroom] is coming at an hour you do not expect…”  (Matthew 24:44) How often in your own lifetime have you heard the phrase — “A word to the wise!” — well, God has provided an entire book filled with “Words” inspired by His Holy Spirit and in addition God sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus to fulfill God’s Plan for mankind and to “prepare” us for the Victory of God’s Plan over the world filled with evil, sin, and death and we should use these “Words” to “gain wisdom” of the “knowledge of God” and accept His Invitation to the Wedding Feast! God has provided you with a lamp and He has provided “oil” for that lamp, but God requires that we use His Provisions “Wisely” for there are literally “heavenly rewards” for those that have prepared their lives for His Return — however you should “count the cost” of being “unprepared” for the penalty is “eternally” disastrous!!! “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming…” and the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil…’ but the wise answered ‘No, lest there not be enough for us…’ and while the foolish went to buy more oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterwards the [foolish unprepared] virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ But [the Lord] answered the [unprepared virgins] and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”  (Matthew 25:6-13) Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man and God the Father has arranged a marriage for His Son Jesus which will bring mankind to a full and complete circle through marriage and family for “In the beginning” (Genesis 1:1) on the 6th day after speaking everything else into existence, God formed man with His own hands and breathed life into the man “and man became a human being” (Genesis 2:7) and then God made a woman from the rib of man and God gave the woman to the man and started the family of mankind with Holy Matrimony (Genesis 2:18-24) — and now at the “end of the age” the Plan of God will be culminated with a Heavenly Marriage joining Christ and His Bride! A word to the wise — PREPARE FOR HIS RETURN AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION!!!

NOVEMBER 03 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” (Matthew 24:45)

NOVEMBER 03  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#31 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?”  (Matthew 24:45)

LIVING FOR JESUS - Daily Prayer   

JESUS, guide me in Thy Way, keep me filled with Thy Holy Spirit, that I may truly serve others as You Served the world, even unto the Sacrifice of Your Perfect Life that was Spotless before the Father, the Lamb of God, whom it pleased Almighty God to be offered up on the Cross at Calvary as the Perfect Sacrifice for the sins of all mankind— one death to cover all sin — Lord, You took nothing for Yourself and all that You did possess You gave freely that others would be served by Your Suffering for our sakes. Thank You Lord Jesus. It is a mystery and a miracle that God Himself became flesh, lived a perfect life in this “valley of the shadow of death”, was tempted in all things as we are tempted, yet remained without sin, and allowed Himself to be nailed to cross, Divine Innocence hanging in agony for the guilty, shedding His last drop of Divine Blood and cried out in VICTORY OVER ALL SIN (AND DEATH ITSELF) —— “IT IS FINISHED” !!! Praise God for the Gift of His Son that we may be FORGIVEN — Teach me O Holy Spirit to live my life in honor of the ONE WHO DIED FOR ME!!!   AMEN

NOVEMBER 03  THE JESUS QUESTIONS

Jesus Taught us a multitude of Lessons within the Parable of the Ten Virgins but probably the main Lesson was for all who seek to know God that they look upon Him as  “Our Heavenly Father” for even though the parable is about “Ten Virgins” (which I admit was a bit distracting from a worldly viewpoint which is in my opinion a plague of the “flesh”) the parable Teaches us first about the “wisdom of preparedness” — for Jesus immediately showed us via the preparedness or the lack thereof of these ten virgins what will ultimately be considered as “wise” or “foolish” kingdom behavior. Jesus continued His parable: “…heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:1-4) Aside from the historical setting in which Jesus Taught this Lesson, surely one can see the universal Truth of the necessity of having fuel for the lamp for the single purpose - for if a lamp is to produce light, it must have fuel! Also on the surface we can make the assumption that a lamp that does not have fuel will not burn therefore the ones with the lamps with no “oil” will be in “darkness”! Let us stop and mull on this Truth for there is no Truth of God that is not worthy of us meditating on the Truth itself and give serious consideration to what God intends for us to learn about living our day-to-day lives if we will but apply His Truth to our lives. The obvious advantage to having “oil” for our “lamps” is that when “darkness” comes into our lives that we will be able to dispel the “darkness” with the “light” from our lamp. However the major Truth of God can be found “in the beginning” of the world as we read the first words of creation — 1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” but the earth and heaven were under construction for we read, 2 “The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” So what did the Spirit of God do to correct the earth not having “form” or purpose and to address the problem of “darkness” that covered the formless earth? 3 “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.  4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:1-4) The fact that five of the virgins were considered “foolish” because even though they had a lamp and were going out to meet the bridegroom, they were called “foolish” because they were not prepared to produce any “light” with their lamps, therefore the “foolish” are those that do not know the simple TRUTH that a lamp without oil cannot produce “light” and those “foolish” enough to not bring “oil” for their lamps will remain in “darkness”. This Truth of God about “light” was also taught by King David himself and all Israel had read King David’s writings in the Book of Psalms therefore it is appropriate that Jesus is the Son of David and is writing about “light” as King David had written these words inspired by the same “Spirit of God” that called forth the first “light” as we read, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) The Parable of the Ten Virgins then is more about having “oil” for our lamps than about remaining pure before the world. “Lamps” without “oil” will not produce “light” so the question for all of us simply is, “What are you using for “oil” for your lamp?”  Without “oil” to give you “light” for your “path” you will stumble and without “Light” you will surely even lose your way in the  “darkness”  of life!!! Food for thought: “What good is a flashlight without batteries?”