Feb 16: Matthew 9:14-15
Key Verse: Matthew 9:15
Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
Devotion:
How many times have you read a part of scripture and a thought came to you about the meaning of that passage, or you saw a different light on the passage from what you have been taught all along. God talks to us in many ways and just one of those ways is when He opens our eyes and hearts to new meaning in the scriptures.
As I was reading these verses a thought came to me which I had not expected. John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked Him a serious question, one which was grounded in their culture and in scripture – and one which people still do wonder about and even ask. What about fasting? Why do some choose to fast and others not to?
Jesus’ answer is one which should be thought about and not just taken as something we do because Jesus did… The disciples had learned about fasting and Jesus was not going to tell them not to, but He was going to put a light on it for us to think about. The time Jesus had on earth was limited and He had to teach the disciples as much as He could whilst He was here…
Fasting should not just be something we do once a week because it’s time to! Fasting should be done because we want to focus our minds on God and the things of God. To do that we need to take time out of our busy schedules and set it aside to commune with God. That means stopping what we are doing! Jesus still had much to teach and did not want them to take time out because He was here with them!
Points to Ponder:
Do you set time aside for God?
How do you use that time with God?