“Tomorrow’s faithfulness begins with the oil we choose to gather today.” — Alma Ohene-Opare
Commentary:
In the parable of the ten virgins, all ten took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. All ten grew tired and fell asleep while they waited. But five brought additional oil, and five did not. When the announcement finally came, the difference became clear. Good intentions had brought them to the gathering, but preparation determined whether they were ready to enter. I find that sobering because it reminds me how easily we can confuse expecting to follow Christ with actually preparing to follow Him.
There are things we cannot borrow when the moment of testing arrives. Someone can share a testimony, encourage our faith, and help us carry a burden, but they cannot develop our relationship with God for us. We cannot borrow years of prayer when a crisis shakes our confidence, any more than we can borrow someone else’s physical endurance when it is time to run. That strength grows through repeated choices. Each sincere prayer, act of repentance, and decision to obey adds something to our spiritual reserve. God gives us agency, and with that freedom comes responsibility for what we cultivate in our souls. His grace sustains our growth as we turn to Him.
Being prepared does not mean living in fear of the Savior’s return or believing we must become flawless before He will receive us. It means taking His invitation seriously today. The bridegroom’s delay did not make preparation unnecessary. It revealed its value. We, too, can become careless when consequences seem distant or life feels comfortable. Yet quiet seasons offer precious opportunities to strengthen faith before hardship comes. We prepare by forgiving while there is time to reconcile, repenting when the Spirit prompts us, and serving when someone needs our help. As we make room for Christ in our daily choices, we become more ready to welcome Him and more willing to live as He lived.
Scripture:
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” — Matthew 25:13
Daily Application:
Set aside ten uninterrupted minutes today to pray, read Matthew 25:1–13, and act on one prompting you have been postponing.