Mt 25:1-13. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet him.
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes...
The love of God is expressed through His word and searches the hearts of man. His children are first and foremost in His heart. His desire is to lose none. His heart is for a relationship with each and every child to demonstrate His nature and His ways. We cannot respond to Him in our daily lives if we do not know Him or look for Him in everything that happens.
Jesus spoke with Martha when she came to him with a complaint against her sister Mary. He counseled her that Mary had sought the greater blessing. Mary sought to sit at His feet to hear His teaching and learn of Him. The busy work of everyday is designed to make us feel good but it grieves Him because it keeps us from Him. It lulls us into a righteous sleep.
If there is no prayer there is no light. If there is no light then we become captives of our enemy. The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy with anything he can use. Religious activity is one of his favorite tools to keep us from the priority of prayer. He also is a master of using a misunderstood scripture to weave a bondage that keep us from being free to pray.
Prayer is the establishment of the most intimate relationship we can have with our Father. Jesus made the way possible, He gave us His name. With His name comes the authority above all authority. Father said in scripture that the name of Jesus is above all names. We enter the throne room boldly though the access given by His name. We are cleansed through His blood and given His righteousness to stand before our Father clean and justified. Humility is our cloak as we wait to hear the desire of His heart. Our agreement with His heart is prayer He waits to receive. That He can fulfill the prayer that His Son uttered that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Our heart's desire is to be the desire of our Father. Jesus prayed in the Garden that we would be one as They are one. That desire is fulfilled through Holy Spirit led prayer. Our laundry lists of wants and desires is not what He is seeking after. Jesus said our Father knows what we need before we even ask. But do we know what He desires? Jesus said to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. As we seek after the things of our Father, He takes care of what we have need of. It is an act of family love and trust.
If you would look around our world, you would notice the first thing removed from our society when the devil seeks to silence Christians, is the removal of prayer. The second is the removal of the Cross. The Cross is an offense to the devil. It is the power of forgiveness. It reveals the true nature of our God, of sacrificial love. Satan has portrayed Him as unloving but the Cross is the ultimate demonstration of His love to the whole world. As we gaze upon the Cross to understand Him we are drawn to know Him. This is the draw to sit at His feet, pray and know Him.
Scripture is clear that half the virgins will be shut out because they were not prepared for His coming. Let us not be among that number. Let us sit at his feet, know His heart and be obedient to His call. Pray Brothers and Sisters! Pray always! Pray without ceasing! Pray to know your Father's heart.
