Pastor Rick Leineweber
And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” Luke 5:33-35 (NASB)
“How can they spend that much time talking together?” Those were the words that I overheard my parents say after I finished a two hour phone call to my fiancé who is now my wife. Back in the “old days,” before cell phones, long distance calls were expensive. The summer before our wedding we would write each other. I’d read her hand written letter over and over. Then I would call her and we would talk through what we had said to each other. I loved our long conversations.
The reason that Jesus didn’t teach his disciples to pray early in His ministry was because when they talked with Him, they were talking with God. But Jesus said “… the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them” and then they will fast and pray. Don’t ever forget that prayer is how the bride of Christ communicates to the bridegroom. The way He communicates with us is through the Bible, God’s Holy Word. When we forget the relational component it becomes academic, routine, and mere ritual.
{Father, Thank you for inviting me into a personal relationship with you! Help me to never take it for granted. Help me nurture my relationship with You through times alone listening to You and sharing what is going on in my life with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!}
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