It is easy to become a person of misplaced devotion, or better said mistimed devotion. The religious leaders ask Jesus about the fasting habits, or lack there of, of his disciples. The answer from Jesus, is about timing. There will come a time for fasting, but not while the party is going on. Jesus is with them in the flesh and that will not always be the case. It is time to party with the author of salvation and giver of life. The devotion of the religious leaders was not the problem, recognizing the time for the right act of devotion was their struggle.
Philippians 2:19-30
Paul is most likely in prison writing this letter to a church he founded. Here we find Paul wanting to assure the congregation of care either by himself or by those he sends their way. Paul would like to go himself but cannot, and he does not want to send just anyone because some have shown to be false, nonetheless he wants to send a leader to them. Not for the purpose of yelling at them, but to encourage them in what God is doing among them.
2 Kings 12-13
The reform continues and attention is turned to the house of God. During the years of kings who did what was evil in the sight of the Lord the Temple had become a place of false worship and disrepair. Joash, repairs the Temple not as a building program but as a way to bring about reform of the spiritual life of the people. To repair the Temple they needed to be the removal of idols, and a reorientation of life around the presence of God. Reform always brings people back to the roots of faith, not merely cosmetic fixes.
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