YOU SNOOZE YOU LOSE

I

Mama sits in her class and starts listening to the lesson. The teacher begins “today’s class is on Matthew 25, the parable of the 10 virgins”. The teacher began reading:

Mat 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.” But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.”The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ “But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

The teacher taught that the application was that we always need to be ready because we know not when the Lord is going to come. We need to be prepared for when the Lord comes for us. We need to get our priorities ready and have those lamps ready.

 

As mama sat in class she started thinking how this lesson could apply to her in her own life. She understood that she needed to be ready for when Jesus came (Mat 24:36), but is she putting the practice in her everyday life and is she teaching her family how to be prepared. Does she really want Sunday morning to be a stressful time? Is she setting the tone and the mood in the house to make getting ready for worship service something that her family is going to look forward to in years to come? The bell rings, class is over….. are you ready for worship?

 

Here are 5 suggestions to help you get to class on time:

1) Get a good night sleep Saturday night. Set your alarm clock and don’t snooze it! Just make it a point and know that Sunday morning is no snooze day…you snooze, you lose!

2) Before bedtime talk about worship service the next day. If the kids have memory verses, or if they’re studying a certain topic in class, talk with them about what they’re learning. Get them enthused and ready for Bible class.

3) Every one set out everything the night before what they’re going to wear or take; this includes underwear, socks, shoes, coats, Bibles, contribution. You do not want to spend any time looking for things on Sunday morning.

4) Soft music or, better yet, religious singing is an excellent way to start off Sunday mornings.

5) Most importantly, pray. Pray that you will be prepared and teach your children to be prepared for worship. After all, God prepared for our salvation before He created the foundation of the world.

 

By Karen Bookout

Originally printed in the Winter 2012 issue V5N1