Today’s Community Scripture – 1/27/2025

They asked him, “John’s disciples are well-known for keeping fasts and saying prayers. Also the Pharisees. But you seem to spend most of your time at parties. Why?” Jesus said, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but this isn’t the time. As long as the bride and groom are with you, you have a good time. When the groom is gone, the fasting can begin. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come! “No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don’t put wine in old, cracked bottles; you get strong, clean bottles for your fresh vintage wine. And no one who has ever tasted fine aged wine prefers unaged wine.”

Luke 5:33-39 (MSG)

– Reflection:

The Bible passage we encountered today reminds me of a key message. The Pharisees pointed out to Jesus that while John’s disciples frequently pray and fast, His disciples are busy eating and drinking, which clearly indicates their disapproval. During that era, prayer and fasting were central to their religious customs, so it likely felt like a betrayal to see Jesus’ disciples not engaging in these practices. In typical fashion, Jesus replies with a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise, the new will be torn, and the piece from the new will not match the old. No one puts new wine into old wineskins…” (v. 36-37). Initially, this might seem unrelated. Why is Jesus discussing sewing and wineskins? However, the connection soon becomes evident. Jesus suggests that asking His disciples to fast would be like putting new wine into old wineskins. By following Him, they are participating in something entirely new. Fasting merely for its historical religious value would restrict this fresh way of living based on outdated expectations.

Where do we go from here?

Now, I’m not telling you what to do with your New Year’s resolution. That’s up to you! However, I will note that to truly grow in our faith, we must be open to changing from the inside out. Instead of only making changes at the surface level, let’s work to open ourselves to a God who is always doing a new thing in us.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for the resilient hearts you have given us all. May you continue to bestow upon us blessings, we haven’t earned and the work the world needs us to do. Amen.

Coach Arthur Poston Jr.
Focused Development Organization
Middle School Coach