Today our devotional passage is from Luke 7:31-35. The words that caught my attention were “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

    we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

This passage is interesting because Jesus is speaking about the leaders rejecting the message that came to the Jews. John the Baptist preached a serious message before Jesus began his ministry. John’s message was about repenting and producing fruit. He directly engaged with the religious leader and called out their hypocrisy. Jesus preached a more palatable message of loving one's neighbor. John the Baptist’s disciples had very strict rules of fasting but Jesus’ disciples ate and drank and were not under any restrictions but none of their messages were received by the leaders. 

Jesus then contrasts his message and John the Baptist’s to illustrate the stubborn ways of Jewish leaders, who were only concerned about their well being and status in society. They did not care about their relationship with God or with their fellow human beings. And Jesus challenged them on this issue. 

Let us be vigilant as we follow God and His commands that we are not blind to the leading of the Holy Spirit and how it leads us into truth and freedom. Let us receive God’s word in joy and gratitude to live a blameless life of service and sacrifice.