Grandma’s Last Night - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2025

Bible in a Year : Job 30-31, Acts 13:26-52

The wise [virgins] . . . took oil in jars along with their lamps.
Matthew 25:4

Today's Scripture & Insight : Matthew 25:1-13

My grandmother had a routine on Saturday nights. Before she went to bed, she laid out all her clothing including the shoes she planned to wear to church the next morning. She always attended the early service and wanted to be ready to get up and go the next morning without any delay. One Saturday night, she was suddenly hospitalised. Later, Jesus called her name, and she died. When my grandfather returned home from the hospital, he found her clothes laid out. She’d been prepared to go to church as well as to meet her God.

My grandmother’s ritual reminds me of the wisdom of the bridesmaids in the parable in Matthew 25. In the story, Christ tells His disciples to be ready for His coming: “Keep watch,” He said. No one knows “the day or the hour” He’ll return (v. 13), so it’s wise for us to be prepared. If we wait until the last minute to prepare, we could be like “the foolish ones” (v. 3). They ran out of oil because they hadn’t prepared well. Just after they left their posts to refill their lamps with oil, the bridegroom came.

We may not need to lay out our clothes like my grandmother, but her ritual demonstrated her desire to be ready for church as well as for her Saviour. May we use her wisdom to be ready for the most important things in life, serving Jesus as He leads us and being ready for His return.

By: Katara Patton

Reflect & Pray
How can you prepare for Christ’s coming? What wise choices can you make in serving Him today?

Dear Jesus, please show me how to be wise as I serve You and prepare for Your return.