After having given instruction for the things of charity and prayer, Jesus now invites us to fast. What is “fasting”? While understandings of the practice will vary widely and we might go beyond what Jesus is talking about, we can assume that he is specifically referring to the practice of abstaining from food and/or drink for a period of time (not eating/drinking). This is done as a way of placing our dependence on God, rather than food.
The Bible is full of examples of God’s people fasting. We’ll read some of them as we go through our passages this week. Note what fasting is: dependence on God. ...and what it isn’t: dieting or otherwise trying to weed something out of our lives. Reduction of unhealthy activity may indeed (and likely should!) occur as a result of placing our dependence on God, but it is a bi-product of obedience to God, not the intended result. Nor is it, as Jesus reminds us in our main passage for the week, a way to draw attention to ourselves, whether we might be tempted to seek either honor or pity. Instead, again...it is that we would find ourselves dependent upon God for all things (even our “daily bread”), and be so rewarded.
Perhaps you yourself have practiced some sort of fast in the past. Whether you have or haven’t, I want to invite you this week to “practice the passage” by fasting. Pick a meal, once a day or once for the week, and replace what you usually do with time spent before God, ingesting what he would grant to you.
As always, read and fast prayerfully before God, asking him that by his Spirit, you might fulfill what Christ has called you to.
Monday, October 17 - Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
Tuesday, October 18 - Matthew 6:1, 9-15, Psalm 109
Wednesday, October 19 - Matthew 6:1, 9-15, Exodus 24:9-18
Thursday, October 20 - Matthew 6:1, 9-15, I Kings 19:4-13
Friday, October 21 - Matthew 6:1, 9-15, Matthew 4:1-11
Saturday, October 22 - Matthew 6:1, 9-15, Acts 13:1-4
Sunday, October 23 - Come to worship with your church family!
