Skip to main content

100. Not If, But When!


Key Verse: "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Matthew 6:17-18

Originally, God only called upon His people to fast one day a year, on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-30). "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: on the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves (that is, fast from food) and not do any work because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins." However, other fasts were called for throughout Jewish history, when prophets, priests or kings would call the nation to repentance, in the hopes that God would hear their prayers and relieve their suffering.

Fasting is almost a lost practice today. Fasting is basically denying yourself something that you either need or enjoy. Usually, when we think of fasting, we think of food, or for a short period, food and water. Longer fasts may call for abstaining from meats, fats and any other beverage than water, such as Daniel's fast in Daniel 10. Today, people will often take a fast from media or electronics to give themselves more time with God.

Why we fast is a different matter altogether. I like to say that fasting is a way of telling the Lord that "I'm so busy talking with you that I don't have time to stop and eat!" Well, for some, that is true. Fasting helps improve our concentration and focus on our relationship with the Lord. For some, it's a matter of self-discipline. It is true that fasting, when accompanied by the right heart motive, does strengthen us in Christ, and make our issues more clear and intensify our worship.

The religious leaders of Jesus' day fasted way more than God had ever required. They let it be known that they were suffering by putting ashes on their heads, or possibly not grooming their beards. It was an outward demonstration of their piety to the people. "My goodness, how pious he is! How does he ever keep going skipping meals twice a week?" In truth, since these men were probably practicing a fast that went from sun down one day to sun down the next, they weren't really going a whole day without food, but it looked good anyway.

Then, as Jesus pointed out, they had their reward. Praise of man was all they wanted. They were hypocrites, just acting for the sake of the crowd. Jesus calls his disciples not to do this. "Don't put ashes on your head, instead, put on oil, and wash your face and be happy!" After all, you are in fellowship with your creator. Isn't that something to celebrate? Your Father knows your heart. He sees the truth, and, He is listening. If your relationship with the Lord is constant and unbroken, it is simply your new way of life. In part, it is in secret because it is internal. What will not remain secret is the fruit of the Spirit that transforms your whole self into someone more like Christ. Isn't that exciting!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...

These Boots are Made for Walking

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-15 These Boots are Made for Walking. Of course, I picked that title because it has a reference to popular culture, and it connects with our text today about “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” I was tempted to play the video of that song, but it’s really not amenable to worship. If you remember that old song, it was quite confrontational. The singer had a righteous complaint against a boyfriend or spouse who was cheating on her. She’s not going to put up with that, and the song goes on to say, “One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!” And that “take a stand” bravado made her a hero! It was a #1 hit in 1966. I mention it because it has one interesting parallel and one major contrast with the message of grace and forgiveness. That parallel is this. God has a righteous complaint against the entire human race for cheating Him out of the loving relationship He desires with us. As the God who created us, he h...

201. All for God's Glory

John 9 & 2 Corinthians 12:7-12 Key Verse: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." John 9:3 In this event John records my personal favorite from all four gospels. I love it for its detail. I love it because it demonstrates so much of our human frailty. It shows us how powerful our fears can be in the midst of God's amazing grace and glory. First, we have the disciples who are suffering under the misconception that sickness and unfortunate circumstances are the result of sin only. They are thinking like Job and his friends. If you obey you will always be blessed and if you sin, God will punish you for it. They couldn't imagine that God could have possibly designed this man, blind, for His own glorious purposes. Then we have the neighbors who are all amazed, but then what? What do you do when the mold has been broken? This man was blind and now he...