Wednesday Reading: Mark 2:18-22
Key Verse: Mark 2:18
18 The disciples of John and those of the Pharisees were fasting. And they came and said to Him, Why do John's disciples and those of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?
Devotion:
If you are blessed enough to be in a situation where you know a lot more than the people around you, it may well be the case that you start to blame those around you for not doing what you think they should. The disciples of John and the Pharisees had indeed learned a lot and they would fast often; they came to Jesus to ask why His disciples were not fasting like they thought they should be. Christ’s answer to them was to compare His disciples with children from the bride chamber; which meant that it was not suitable for them to fast at that time.
This lesson was one to show the disciples of John and the Pharisees that things do change over time and there will be times where you will be doing things which are different to what you are used to. These times will be those times where things are not under your control but require you to do things just a little different to what you are used to. The underlying theme has got to be that you are working for the good of things to come rather than stagnating on what you are used to. Our world is always changing and as it changes we have to look at each situation and work for the good of things to come.
Christ does not want us to be bogged down with habits or ceremony but to look forward to what lies ahead and work with Him to make changes that will work. When He talked about sewing new material onto an old garment He wants us to know that some things will change and we may have to let them change rather than trying to force our normal ways upon things. When He talked about the new wine in the old skins He wants us to know that when something new comes our way we may have to go with the difference and make a place for that in our lives rather than thinking that we will be able to put those changes back in our normal ways. Change can be a good thing – but we need to change with God and not against Him.
Points to Ponder:
Do you like change?
Do you fight change when it comes from God?
