Read Matthew 25 and allow the Holy Spirit to speak truth into your understanding.

Observe if you will at least two parables. It will be up to you to receive the understanding as to the third related tale. If you receive it in truth, then let that be enough said. This devotional is about conclusions.

In the parable of the ten virgins the conclusion is about whether or not those waiting on the bridegroom had a relationship with him. Verse twelve says to the unwise virgins, “I do not know you.” That is personal.

In the parable of the talents the conclusion was that the worthless servants were cast into darkness. The reference to weeping and gnashing of teeth and the words in verse 26 indicated they knew better than to be unfaithful but they remain unfaithful anyway. This is about obedience of faith.

The final section is labeled the final judgment in the ESV and speaks to those in attendance as the Son of Man, the humanity of Christ. What is addressed there is the issues of how mankind treated Jesus on a personal level. Neither of those in attendance acknowledged His identity in the people they encountered in life. This is seen of both types in verses 37 and 44.

It is up to each of us to read, understand and believe. Are they all just parables or are they something more?

There are conclusions to be drawn in all three tales and we will either relate to those conclusions or we will not. If truth is spoken to you in any of them then now is the opportunity to react in truth before our conclusion. Today is the day to accept, believe and to act upon what is true.

Philippians 1:6 English Standard Version (ESV) And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Paul has written so much about the behaviors and relationships for the saints in Christ that we give him much credit for the structure of our churches. I will not address our differences in administrations nor the things we might hold more important than other things. This is not about those differences.

He in the sentence above is God the Father who has the plans for our lives. He has sent His Son Jesus Christ to be His voice in all matters. He is the Holy Spirit relating truth to us personally.

Over the decades, as I have grown in Christ, I can see that I was only able to receiving a limited amount of truth and understanding to believe because I was immature. My understanding was illuminate by the Holy Spirit in a way that might be seen as a sunrise. The light shines upon darkness and the darkness falls away only to see the truth a little more every moment.

God has begun a growth process in each of us and it is He who has grown us and not our teachers, preachers, pastors nor advisors. We will all receive and believe and obey according to His plans for us differently. Each journey to maturity is a path only we can walk with Jesus. It is a personal one.

What completion looks like I cannot say. Others may have an idea or an image or perhaps even a vision, but that is individual. It is not for me to change your mind about what the Lord has given you to believe.

I say this because my ideas about what I thought I knew in the past has changed as His light revealed more truth to me on this journey. I suspect it is true for all of us. I am not in control of the Rising Son.