HOLY PREPARATIONS

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, AUGUST 7, 2012

HOLY PREPARATIONS

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelations 21:2

Preparations for "wedding day" are full of excitement.  Getting everything done is simply a part of the program-- manicures, pedicures, hair-dos and spa trips.   There are checklists for the florist, for the bride's maids, for the reception hall, for the menu, for the music, for the photographer... and of course, there are those wonderful moments of trying on the wedding gown.  Yes, these are worldly preparations. 

I Corinthians  speaks of the difference between a wife and a "holy" virgin: 
"There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband" (I Corinthians 7:34).
 
 Jesus tells a parable of the five virgins to illustrate the necessity of spiritual, holy preparations:


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 cometh; 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 cometh.  Matthew 25:1-13

Though marriage is honorable and the bed undefiled, we must make sure that our earthly duties do not consume us so that we pay no attention to our heavenly calling:
But this I say, brethren, the time is short:  it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. I Corinthians 7:21-23  The bride of Christ must be holy, prayed up, filled up with the Holy Spirit, full of good works, prepared with gospel preaching and well practiced in speaking the word of her testimony.  Surely, our groom is soon to return and we must make ourselves ready! 
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Revelations: 19:7,8
Today, let us not be careless in our preparations, but let us be diligent, holy, spiritual, and upright as we await the return of our soon coming King!