Daily Direction Reading PlanSample

Among Al Smith's many songs and choruses, he wrote this: "With eternity's values in view Lord, with eternity's values in view; May I do each day's work for Jesus, with eternity's values in view." Al Smith captured the sense of Jesus' story about the Ten Bridesmaids, recorded in Matthew 25. Jesus told the story to highlight the need for people to be ready when He returns. The bridesmaids were attendants at a big wedding. Following the local custom, they were to go with the groom to meet his bride. All 10 had lamps, but five bridesmaids were wise and five were foolish. The wise took enough oil to keep their lamps lit at night while they waited for the groom to arrive, but the foolish took no extra oil. All slept until the cry came, "Look, the bridegroom is coming. Come out and welcome him!" They all got up to prepare their lamps. But the lamps of the foolish maids began to go out. So they begged the wise to share their oil with them. The wise ones replied, "We do not have enough for all of us. Go buy some." While they went to buy, the groom arrived; those who were ready went in to the party, and the host locked the door. When the foolish ones arrived later, they stood outside begging, "Sir, open the door for us!" He replied, "I do not know you!" Jesus then said, "Stay awake and be prepared because you do not know the day or hour of my return."