Posture
The Lord has positioned me - and I have myself - as Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38-42). Mary to me is a picture of the maiden in the Song of Songs that delighted in the fruit of abiding in her Beloved's shade. (2:3-4) Mary is the one who abided in the Vine - she learned the art of stillness and quietness of spirit. She knew humility. She knew Jesus. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and was enthralled by His beauty - she knew His love was more delightful than wine (Song 1:2). This is a posture of receiving and of filling.
What am I filling?
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the 10 virgins. Five virgins were foolish and five virgins were wise. The foolish ones brought a lamp - but didn't bring oil to sustain a flame. The wise took oil in jars, along with their lamps.
-Now to me, these lamps symbolize a relationship with Jesus. Anyone can have it, but not everyone knows in order to sustain the flame of the relationship, you must fill yourself up with Him. -
The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and all ten of the virgins became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: "Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!"
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, "Give us your oil; our lamps are going out."
"No," they replied, "there may not be enough for all of us. Go buy oil from those who sell it. Go get some for yourself."
-Jesus longs for relationship with us! He makes this obvious. He wants us to experience Him for ourselves. Not our friend's relationship. Not our mother's or our father's. Ours. Just you and him. He says in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart."-
While these foolish virgins were on their way to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.
Later the others also came. "Sir, Sir!" they said. "Open the door for us!"
But he replied, "I tell you the truth, I don't know you."
Therefore keep watch, because you don't know the day or the hour.
Matthew 25:1-13
Lifestyle of a Wise Virgin - or, Mary
This is the abiding part - even when you are asleep like the 10 virgins, you are cultivating the Garden, your heart. You meditate on the Word, pray, and love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength. It is to become preoccupied with the things of the Bridegroom. Psalm 51 says, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew within me a steadfast spirit."
Be pure and ready for your Bridegroom, because you don't know when He's coming!
