Mark Chapter 2: Verse 18 (NLT Translation)
Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees?”
People noticed that Jesus’ disciples were doing things differently than perhaps was expected of the religious people of the time, and some of them came to Jesus to ask why. There are two different lessons here though:
1.When we decide to become a follower of Jesus our behaviour and attitudes should change too. They should reflect those of Jesus. People should notice the change, and some may even ask us why.
2. What the Pharisees and John’s disciples were doing was not wrong. Christians, and the churches in which they worship are not all the same. We should not make the mistake of thinking that just because someone worships differently from us that they are not doing it right. We should keep our focus on Jesus Himself , and what He wants from us personally. Its not our role to judge what some of His other followers are doing. Let’s leave that to Him.
Dear Lord,
Help me to keep my focus on imitating Jesus, and to pray for other believers, not judge what they are doing. I ask in the name of Jesus Himself. Amen.