Trimmings

Matthew 25:7-Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegrooms is coming; go out and meet Him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps."

The focus on this story has always been the difference between the wise and foolish virgins. But this time, let's consider what it means to trim our lamps. If I was going to trim my oil lamp, I would cut off the edges that are burned. Then my lamp would burn brightly without putting off smoke and fumes. I would be able to see my bridegroom better if he happened to show up in the dark of midnight.

My New Spirit Filled Life Bible has these notes about the word trimmed. It comes from the word, "kosmeo," a word close to 'cosmetic.' It means to beautify, arrange, decorate, furnish, embellish, adorn, and put in order. "Here is a picture of revival before the Second Coming of Christ."

So when we pray for revival, we want our wicks to be revived so our flame burns brighter.
The virgins trimmed their own wicks. So how do we do that? How do we beautify and adorn ourselves for His coming?

I think beauty involves the light within one's face.

The entrance of God's word brings light, and gives understanding to the simple.

I think of the verse in Psalm 34-"They looked unto Him and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed." Another version says that they looked radiant.

Shame-real or imagined-dims our light.
  It's one of those things that make our wicks dark
where the light is meant to burn the brightest.

Fear darkens a face.
Trust softens it.

Perhaps it is not a matter of praying and waiting for revival to come to us.

What if we trimmed our wicks and put our lamps in order?
What if we daily purchased oil to fill our lamps so we'd always have a source for our light?
What if we basked in God's Word and the light from His face?

Then we would experience revival because we would be revived.