The Trial of Your Faith. Part [5] 03/29/2024 (Evening thought)

Matthew 25:Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

In fact, according to the parable, the wise ones did not really have any material, or spiritual advantage over the them, for both groups were found sleeping at the wheel when the midnight cry was announced and because of this, the observable difference was that the wise virgins just had extra oil, to meet the sudden emergency.

Let’s say here that it is of critical importance for two spouses in a marriage to be on the same page as far as having reserve oil in their tanks, for wherever this is not the case, there would be serious differences in the way trials are handled, when trouble comes knocking at the door.

Apparently, Job’s wife wasn’t praying as he was, and therefore, when the storm of trials burst upon them without warning, the one stood firm while the other buckled. One ends up praising, the other one ends up cursing, for these are usually the two reactions that emanate from persons in trial, either praises or curses.

Matthew 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go you out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night “ and God bless!

The Trial of Your Faith. Part [4] 03/28/2024 (Morning thought)

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Our case study will center around Job, and how he and his wife handled the trials of their faith. There are important points to note so that as we ourselves prepare for prime time, we too would be instructed from their experiences. The following therefore, are a few observations we should pay attention to. [1] In order to be prepared for trials, the Christian must form the habit of praying regularly, following Jesus’ lead, for it is only by doing so continually, that victory in adverse circumstances will be realized.

The Christian’s prayer life must never be haphazard, by only praying when difficulty and trials come our way. When this is the case, it is almost a guarantee that we will be steamrolled by devils, especially if the trial bursts upon us without any prior warning. Job was in the habit of praying and therefore he was no stranger to the throne of God. But sadly, some of us leave prayer up to feelings while others only seek God when the going gets rough.

But, when Job was faced with the unexpected, he had reserve oil in his tank, to meet the emergency. The five foolish virgins in Christ’s parable were not necessarily bad people, they were good people who believed in God, were baptized, and had apparently accepted the fundamental tenets of Christianity, but they came up to prime time, without having reserve oil in their tank.

Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!