July 6: Matthew 9:14-17

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:
One thing which seemed to bother many people was the way the disciples acted when around Jesus. They had been brought up in very strict circumstances and they tried to follow the scriptures to the letter – well, as best they could understand them!

Jesus was not there to upturn things but to show people God knew they were human and knew they would get things wrong from time to time. The important part was not the sticking to the letter of the law but what was in the hearts of the people. If they knew in their hearts they loved God and wanted to do what they could to please God, then God would see what they had in their hearts and be happy with that!

Too often we get caught up in red tape and all manner of rules and regulations, losing sight of what it means to be a child of God. Children get things wrong, but the parent still love them. Children grow up to learn to love their parents (assuming a rightful relationship exists to start with) and the love shows between child and parent.

When we love God, our love for Him should be on show, not in a boastful manner to exclude others, but in a way to include others in how we live with God and how we commune with Him.

Points to Ponder:
Do you get caught up in rules?

Will you focus on loving God instead?