November 12, 2012
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:16-18
OBSERVATIONS
1. Jesus does not say we must fast, He is addressing when we choose to do it. To fast is to voluntarily withhold yourself from something (food, drink, other activity) in times of crisis, sorrow for sin, or to draw closer to God. In the OT there were prescribed fasts related to the Jewish festivals, but no longer applicable in the NT. If we choose to fast, do not turn it into a religious performance.
2. Same instruction as to giving and prayer, do it for God and not for show. Keep it secret, between yourself and God. The issue is motivation, why are you doing it? Telling someone does not suddenly negate the value of the fast. In Jesus’ time people would dress down dramatically, to draw attention to their fast. Jesus says to dress and look normal.
3. I have tried fasting, but I cannot say that I have found it helpful. Maybe for some people it helps them focus, but for me it does not stimulate me spiritually. Maybe this reveals a deeper spiritual issue, that I am too attached to food (or whatever I fast from).
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
1. Not sure what message I am hearing today. Maybe the fact that fasting does not seem to work for me is telling me something that I need to look into. I sense the Lord probing my spiritual desire, checking the spiritual temperature of my heart – hot, cold or lukewarm?
2. Maybe the challenge for today is to try a fast… except now I just told you. If I were to fast, what would I fast from, and how could I do it so that it became a spiritual experience? Perhaps couple it with a personal retreat, a prayer walk? To voluntarily withhold from eating until supper time (Chinese food!!!) and spend my afternoon prayer walking?
3. I am still thinking about the motivation, about doing something for God alone. Suddenly the song ”Hungry” comes to mind, which is about desiring God in a way that is like being hungry. A deep ache inside of me to know, feel, experience God.
— ”Hungry I come to You for I know You satisfy. I am empty but l know Your love does not run dry. So I wait for You, so I wait for You. I’m falling on my knees, offering all of me. Jesus You’re all this heart is living for. Broken I run to You for Your arms are open wide. I am weary but I know Your touch restores my life. So I wait for You, so I wait for You…”
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, today I want to deepen my desire to know You, to love You, to live for You.
Fasting
It is interesting that the church culture that I was brought up in emphasized things like prayer, bible reading, meeting together, baptism, communion, but was basically silent on the issue of fasting. But just as the earlier verses say “when” you pray, these verses say “when” you fast. So it is not an issue of maybe fasting if you feel like it.
Having been taught last year about fasting as one of the spiritual disciplines, and being encouraged to take part in this, has not provided me with any amazing insight. Fasting can be done on its own, but in scripture usually accompanies prayer, or remorse. It is an Old Testament as well as a New Testament practice. When accompanied with prayer, and perhaps with solitude, it can help to focus on God, and away from day to day needs.
These verses seem to emphasise that fasting is nobody else’s business. This is just between me and God. This has the same format as the verses on private prayer, where this prayer was a private matter between me and God. Jesus was talking to people who showed their piety to others.
So what about the thought that others should be able to see that we are Christians without us saying anything. Isn’t this what Jesus is warning about here? Should we live our Christian lives so that others know that we are a Christian? Or is this something between God and me? This chapter appears to state the latter. So what about evangelism and outreach? Perhaps we are not to use prayer and fasting as tools for reaching out to others.
I pray that I can put into practice more regularly the practice of fasting. It is only by trying this, and doing it prayerfully and thoughtfully that I can gain any personal perspective on this.
Observations:
Fasting is a worshipping experience between you and the Lord. It is private and a part of personal relationship with the Lord.
Application:
Fasting is a spiritual experience between the Lord and myself. It is my talks with God which are done in the ‘closet.’ It is a time of focus from the world and a focus on the Lord. Spending that time with God is a joyful experience. The time spent in His presence gives new life, new perspective on how to live in His presence each day.
Prayer:
Help me this day Lord to walk in Your presence. Help me always to seek Your face.
Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.