Matthew 25-26

Angie's Thoughts

As I was reading chapter 25 I couldn't help but think that the parables that Jesus told there..(The Parable of the Ten Virgins, The Sheep and the Goats, The Parable of the Talents) that he was trying to shed light on our purpose here on earth. In the parable of the ten virgins the 5 virgins that were ready for the bridegroom got to be inside the house with him and the 5 that weren't got locked out. In the parable of the talents.. three different servants were given different amounts of money and the two that took their money and made more were given even more by their master and the one that just took the money and hid it without multiplying it had his money taken away. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, the sheep (the ones that helped people in the name of the Lord) were blessed and the goats (the ones that did not help people in the name of the Lord) were cursed.

So, I think we have three basic things that we are supposed to accomplish: prepare ourselves and be ready for our heavenly homes, multiply what the Lord has blessed us with here on earth.. and just do good in the name of the Lord.

obviously that's in a nutshell and there's a ton more to it. But I'm happy to get these points of view from Jesus of what is wanted from us here in the world.

Nikke's thoughts

Jesus knowingly faced His torture and death. This is so powerful to me.
It is one thing to be taken away without knowing it but to know the exact day the exact time of when you are going to be arrested, tortured and eventually killed and willingly and humbly accept it?!
I am not sure if I could do it.
I know the Lord gives us the courage and the strength we need to bear the trials we must face in order to persevere but torture? This is a hard one to wrap my head around.
I think of the martyrs even today and the miraculous things the Lord does and I ask myself fairly often would I be able to claim Jesus if it meant I were to die right then? Knowing I would be leaving my family and friends behind?
I hope I could.
I know I will see my friends and family another day in heaven as most of them know the Lord. It just still seems so hard and overwhelming to me.

I think of Peter when he denied Jesus 3 times when not faced with death and was distraught afterwards and wept over it.
I am not sure I could deny Him at all no matter what the circumstance, but also Peter never thought he would deny Him either.
Jesus said, "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

I think about how much I want to live here in earth and cherish the people I have here, but it is nothing compared to my inheritance in heaven.

I guess it all comes down to if we are a sheep or are we a goat?
Are we a follower of Christ or are we unbelievers?


Lord, help me to be a good sheep. Lead me to the places you want me to be. I want nothing more than to spend eternity with you. You are my rock, you are my comforter, you are my provider and I want to honor and glorify you all the days of my life.
Amen