Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
When the Bridegroom Cries
Pastor Scott
Monday, February 23, 2004
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"And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him."
(Matthew 25:6)
As a people we understand the days that are upon us, the hour that's at hand, and that at any moment the trumpet of God can sound, the dead will rise, and we'll be changed. Every one of us needs to be changed now. The most successful among us is so far short. There is no place for rest, for the Bride is making herself ready. We're watching because we don't know what hour He's coming. Matthew 25 tells us that the slumber cannot occur until the oil has been provided in abundance. The lamp burns, but it will burn out. Is the cruse filled? Do we have more than enough? When the Bridegroom cries, will we rise and have sufficient oil?
We know where to go to get the oil. We know how to pray; we know how to repent; we know how to study. We know, but are we ready? Is there sufficient today, because there's not going to be time to run back and prepare. The door will be closed, and He'll say, "I never knew you." We could say, "We did miracles in the streets. I pastored Calvary Temple for thirty years. I came up short." We don't know what hour He's coming. If we knew it was in the next six hours, would we do something about it? Whatever you do in His name for His glory, you'll receive it again. Were you too busy to do that one thing? Were you too busy to share the gospel? Were you too frustrated today to represent Him? Were you too busy to think about Him? Were you too caught up in pursuit of that which is going to burn? I wish we'd all been ready. Were you too busy to get your kids ready? Are you working hard to buy them a new pair of tennis shoes, to make sure they get a college education, or to make sure that you can leave them a great inheritance? I think we're better off to leave a heritage than an inheritance.
We're children of light. This day is not going to come upon us unawares, but those that are drunken are drunken in the night--in the darkness. Are you running to darkness? Are you trying to hide your sin? Are you trying to hide your apathy? That day will come on you like a thief in the night. Are you coming to the light? Are you humbling yourself? Are you falling on the Rock? Are you acknowledging, pursuing, and crying out to God rather than trying to justify yourself? You'll hear that trumpet, and then you'll be changed; you'll see Him and be like Him.
Take time to rejoice in the hour that we're in and the fact the Lord is at hand, praise God! Just think about it. We're the generation that will likely see the coming of the King! The trumpet will sound! We'll be changed! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! Hallelujah! Lord, come and receive us unto Yourself, that where You are, there we may be also. Father, prepare our hearts to hear that trumpet. Help us to be deaf to everything around us, but keen to the voice of God. That still, small voice that says, "This is the way; walk in it," is the same voice that will shout one day, "Come up hither!" If you can hear that still, small one, you'll hear the trumpet blast. There's no way you'll miss the trumpet blast, if you're walking daily by the Spirit's guidance.