TOPIC: HE CAME NOT TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE (v.17)

Opening Prayer: Lord, let the light of your word shine into my life as I meditate on your word.

SCRIPTURE: MARK 2: 13-22

Question(s) for Reflection
• Q 8: Is there any other Biblical passage that can help me understand this passage better?

OUTLINE

Some people are good at running marathons; and some are good at hurdles. On the other hand, some cannot run fifty meters even without hurdles. The scribes are like the good hurdlers looking down on those who fall at the first hurdles. Yet those are the ones who know their weakness and are willing to accept the help which comes from Jesus (vs.6-7). The scribes, on the other hand, are no better, because life is an unending series of marathons in which Satan places hurdles of temptations and troubles all along the way!

We are now living in the days mentioned in v.20; and so we should make fasting part of our spiritual discipline from time to time. When we fast along with our praying, every pang of hunger helps to refocus our mind on our purpose and turn our hearts to God again and again. We need to be careful, however, to carry out our fasting in a manner acceptable to God. For this reason, we should take care to study what the Bible says about prayer and fasting.

For Further Study
Use a concordance to check out fasting which is acceptable, and which is not acceptable to God (e.g., Nehemiah 1:4, Esther 4:16, Daniel 10:2, Isaiah 58:3-5 & 6-7, Mathew 6:16-18, Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:2-3).

• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?

Closing Prayer
Thank you for receiving me, Lord Jesus. Help me to invite other sinners to come to you.

Offer a prayer of faith in line with Proverbs 3:5 ‐ 6

One Year Bible Reading Plan
Genesis 7,8, Psalms 7