“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.”
– Matthew 25:10
 In a parable about 10 young women and a Jewish wedding, Jesus teaches us that when we’re prepared, we will be ready for whatever comes our way. This is how it is in the Kingdom of God. In Jesus’ time, weddings were huge events that spanned several days and every young woman was eager to attend. Much to their delight, 10 young women were invited to the wedding, which would have lots of food, wine, dancing, and song. During those days, if you were a family member or friend of the wedding party, you would receive word telling you when the groom would arrive and when the party would start. You were supposed to wait outside for him, and if you had a lit lamp at night, you had an invitation.
These ten women had their lamps, but only five had spare oil; the other five did not. The announcement was made that the groom would be arriving soon that evening. So that was their queue to get ready for him and go to the party. The five women who ran out of oil had to go into town in search of more oil. When they returned, they were locked out as the party started. Friend, there was nothing wrong with these young women; they were just not prepared. You can’t always see the future, but what’s inside of you can prepare you for the seasons. The four seasons always come — winter, spring, summer, and fall. Prepare yourself for your dream, whether you want to run a marathon or build the world’s greatest ice cream stand! When everyone else is watching TV, browsing Instagram or social media platforms, ask the Holy Spirit for help and fill your tank with oil. |
Prayer
Father, help me prepare for the fulfillment of my dreams.
Reflection
Describe your preparations for achieving your dreams.
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
