PARABLES: Ready Or Not - Elder Mark Oots • Pathway Church Shorewood • LIVE • 11/23/2025

Devotional

Day 1: Persistent Prayer and Unwavering Faith

Jesus teaches that we should always pray and not give up, even when answers seem delayed or circumstances remain unchanged. The parable of the persistent widow reminds us that God is not like the unjust judge; He is attentive to the cries of His people and will bring justice in His perfect timing. Faith is not measured by immediate results but by our willingness to keep seeking, asking, and trusting God, regardless of how long it takes. When we persist in prayer, we draw closer to Him, and our faith is refined, preparing us for His return. [03:41]

Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Reflection: What is one prayer you have stopped praying because you felt God was silent? Will you choose to bring it before Him again today, trusting His timing and goodness?

Day 2: Be Ready and Watchful for Christ’s Return

Jesus calls His followers to live in a state of readiness, keeping their lamps burning and their hearts prepared for His return, which will come unexpectedly. Just as servants wait for their master, we are to be vigilant, not distracted by the routines and busyness of life, but actively seeking to serve and honor Him. The call is not to predict the timing of His coming, but to be found faithful, alert, and eager for His arrival, living each day as if He could return at any moment. [13:14]

Luke 12:35-40 (ESV)
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Reflection: In what area of your life have you become spiritually complacent or distracted? What is one practical step you can take today to live with greater readiness for Jesus’ return?

Day 3: True Readiness Means Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

The parable of the ten virgins teaches that being prepared for Christ’s return is not about outward activity or religious routine, but about having the Holy Spirit living within. The wise virgins brought extra oil, symbolizing a life transformed and sustained by the Spirit, while the foolish were unprepared and left outside. It is not enough to simply associate with the faithful or participate in church activities; true readiness comes from repentance, faith, and allowing Jesus to live His life through you, producing the fruit of the Spirit. [23:53]

Matthew 25:1-13 (ESV)
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Reflection: Are you relying on religious habits or truly depending on the Holy Spirit to guide and transform you? How can you invite the Spirit to fill and lead you more fully today?

Day 4: Living as New Creations—Putting on Christ

Believers are called to set their hearts and minds on things above, putting to death the old self and clothing themselves with Christ. This means turning away from the patterns and desires of the world and allowing God to renew us in His image. True readiness for Christ’s return is marked by a transformed life—one that is not content with simply being “better than others,” but is actively seeking to reflect Jesus in character, speech, and action. [43:02]

Colossians 3:1-10 (ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Reflection: What is one old habit or attitude you need to “put off” today, and what would it look like to “put on” Christ in that area?

Day 5: The Urgency of Readiness—No Second Chances

Life is unpredictable, and none of us knows the day or hour when we will meet Jesus—whether at His return or at the end of our earthly lives. The call is urgent: to repent, believe, and let Christ rule your life now, not someday. There are no second chances after this life; salvation is offered freely through grace, not by our own efforts, but we must receive it and allow Jesus to transform us. Don’t wait for a more convenient time—choose today to be ready, to seek His face, and to let Him be your source of hope and security. [46:01]

Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV)
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Reflection: If you knew you would meet Jesus today, is there anything you would want to make right with God or with others? What step can you take right now to be ready?

Sermon Summary

Today, we explored three parables that all point us to a single, urgent question: When Jesus returns, will he find faith on the earth? Jesus’ teaching about the persistent widow in Luke 18 reminds us to always pray and not give up, even when answers seem delayed or absent. God is not like the unjust judge; he is attentive to the cries of his people, but he also desires a faith that endures, a faith that keeps seeking, asking, and knocking. The heart of the matter is not about using the right words or having perfect faith, but about a relationship that perseveres and trusts God’s timing and character.

We then considered the parable of the servants waiting for their master’s return in Luke 12. The call is to be ready, to live with anticipation, and to serve faithfully even when it seems like the wait is long. Jesus warns that his return will be sudden and unexpected, like a thief in the night. The point is not to predict the timing, but to cultivate a life that is always prepared—marked by faithfulness, service, and longing for his appearing. It’s easy to get distracted by the routines and demands of life, but the true test is whether our hearts are set on Christ or on the things of this world.

Finally, we looked at the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. The difference between the wise and the foolish was not whether they fell asleep, but whether they were prepared. The oil, representing the Holy Spirit, is not something we can borrow or acquire at the last minute. It is the result of a life surrendered to Christ, filled with his Spirit, and transformed from the inside out. Being ready means more than outward activity or religious routine; it means having Christ living in us, making us new, and producing the fruit of the Spirit.

All of this leads to a sobering reality: there are no second chances after Christ returns or after our lives end. The grace and mercy offered through Jesus are available now, but the time to respond is limited. The call is to repent, believe, be filled with the Spirit, and live each day as those who are eagerly awaiting the return of our King. Our hope is not in our own efforts, but in the finished work of Christ, who offers us not just mercy, but grace—life we do not deserve, freely given to those who are ready to receive it.

Key Takeaways

1. Persistent faith is not transactional God is not a vending machine responding to perfectly-worded prayers or flawless faith. Persistent faith is about relationship—trusting God’s character and timing, even when answers are delayed. The act of continually seeking him draws us closer, shaping our hearts to desire him above all else. [05:58]
2. Readiness is a daily posture, not a prediction Jesus’ return will be sudden and unexpected, and the call is to live in a state of readiness. This means faithfully serving, loving, and seeking him in the ordinary moments of life, not just in times of crisis or religious activity. True readiness is about the orientation of our hearts, not our ability to predict the future. [13:14]
3. The Holy Spirit is essential for true preparation The oil in the parable of the ten virgins represents the Holy Spirit, which cannot be borrowed or obtained at the last minute. Only a life surrendered to Christ, filled with his Spirit, is truly prepared for his return. Outward activity is not enough; inward transformation is what matters. [22:27]
4. Grace is received, not earned Christianity is unique in that it offers both justice and mercy, but also grace—undeserved favor. Jesus fulfilled justice on the cross and offers us grace, not because of our works, but because of his love. We must accept this gift personally; it is not automatically applied. [38:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Introducing the Three Parables
[01:23] - The Persistent Widow: Always Pray
[03:41] - Wrestling with Unanswered Prayer
[06:45] - Will Jesus Find Faith?
[08:57] - Focusing on Jesus Amid Life’s Distractions
[10:26] - The Servants Waiting for the Master
[13:14] - The Unexpected Return of Christ
[16:48] - Signs of the End and Our Response
[19:36] - The Ten Virgins: Preparedness Explained
[22:27] - The Oil and the Holy Spirit
[25:22] - Complacency vs. Readiness
[29:49] - The Closed Door: No Second Chances
[32:08] - Living Ready in Everyday Life
[34:58] - Being Salt and Light in All Circumstances
[38:44] - Justice, Mercy, and Grace in Christ
[41:38] - Setting Our Hearts on Things Above
[43:51] - Repentance and the Call to Readiness
[46:48] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 18:1-8 (ESV) – The Parable of the Persistent Widow — - Luke 12:35-40 (ESV) – The Servants Waiting for Their Master
- Matthew 25:1-13 (ESV) – The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Observation Questions

In the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8), what is the main reason Jesus gives for telling this story to his disciples? [01:23]
According to Luke 12:35-40, what are the servants instructed to do while waiting for their master’s return? What does Jesus say about the timing of the master’s arrival? [10:26]
In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), what is the key difference between the wise and foolish virgins? What does the oil represent according to the sermon? [21:45]
What does Jesus mean when he asks, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” [06:45]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that God is not like the unjust judge, but he still wants us to keep asking and seeking him. Why might God allow delays in answering our prayers, and how does this shape our relationship with him? [05:58]
Jesus warns that his return will be sudden and unexpected, like a thief in the night. What does it look like to live in a state of readiness, and why is predicting the timing not the point? [13:14]
The oil in the parable of the ten virgins is described as representing the Holy Spirit, which cannot be borrowed or obtained at the last minute. What does this teach about personal faith and preparation? [22:27]
The sermon emphasizes that grace is received, not earned. How does this understanding of grace affect the way someone approaches God and lives out their faith? [38:44]

Application Questions

Think about a time when you prayed persistently for something but didn’t see an answer right away. How did you respond, and what did you learn about God or yourself through that experience? [05:08]
The sermon mentions that it’s easy to get distracted by the routines and demands of life. What is one specific distraction in your life that keeps you from focusing on Jesus? What practical step can you take this week to shift your focus? [08:09]
Readiness is described as a daily posture, not a one-time event. What does “being ready” for Jesus’ return look like in your everyday life—at work, at home, or with friends? [13:14]
The oil represents the Holy Spirit and a life surrendered to Christ. Are there areas in your life where you are relying on outward activity or routine instead of true inward transformation? What would it look like to invite the Holy Spirit to change you in those areas? [22:27]
The sermon says there are no second chances after Christ returns or after our lives end. Does this reality change the way you think about repentance or sharing your faith with others? Why or why not? [29:49]
Grace is described as a gift that must be personally received. Have you ever struggled to accept God’s grace as a free gift rather than something to be earned? How does this affect your relationship with God and others? [38:44]
The message challenges us to set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things. What is one practical way you can “set your mind on things above” this week? [41:38]

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