ESOCS Devotional 13 October 2025 – Be Prepared
MEMORY VERSE: “The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.” Matthew 25:4 NIV
TEXT: MATTHEW 25:1-9
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
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The parable teaches all would-be followers of Jesus Christ the importance of vigilance in an uncertain time and illustrates how one is able to “endure to the end” (24:13).
The overall and easily seen thrust of the parable is that Christ will return at an unknown hour and that His people must be ready. Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency arises in our lives and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times, while we eagerly await His Second Coming.
As seen in the fact that all the virgins were sleeping when the call came, indicates that it doesn’t matter what we are doing when Christ returns. We may be working, eating, sleeping, or pursuing leisure activities. Whatever it is, we must be doing it in such a way that we don’t have to “make things right” (get more oil) when He comes. This would apply to either the coming of Christ for His Church or for the Tribulation saints, as they await His second coming.
Being ready for Christ’s return ultimately involves one major thing, which manifests itself in several areas of our lives. If we would be ready for Christ’s return, we must be born again through saving faith in Jesus Christ…His death, burial and resurrection from the dead (John 3:16; 14:6; Romans 10:9 and 10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:1-10). Saving faith in Jesus Christ will manifest itself in every aspect of our lives. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) will begin to show. A desire for greater holiness and less sin will be apparent. And a consistent looking for His coming will mark our lives.
One of the best passages articulating what saving grace and faith look like in a believer’s life is Titus 2:11-14: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
CHALLENGES
- Are you ready for the coming of the bridegroom?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord Jesus, please help me to be steadfast in thee till your Second Coming. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 2:18-End; Isaiah 11:1-10; Revelation 14:1-7
ESOCS Devotional 13 October 2025
