A LOOK AT FASTING
By Pastor Timothy Burdick
"Is
it (fasting) not to divide your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him; And
not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
"Then your light will break out like the
dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring
forth; and your righteousness will go before
you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear
guard" (Isaiah 58:7-8)
I have heard a lot
about fasting, and am concerned, because
some people seem to see it only as a means
by which they can be blessed. While it is
true that fasting can be a source of
blessing, it is not merely a tool for me to
use to get my desires met. If you remember
in the New Testament the Pharisees used
fasting as a way to show the world their
self-righteousness. But this is not its
purpose either, for fasting does not earn a
person "brownie points" with God. It does
not make them "SUPER CHRISTIANS" by any
means! The Bible says, that "all our righteousness is as filthy rags" (Isaiah
64:6). Our righteousness was paid for once
and for all on the cross and was given as
His free gift to you and to me.
Fasting is mentioned
throughout the entire Bible. In addition to
Old Testament figures, it was done by people
like John the Baptist, those in the early
church and the Lord Jesus Himself. Fasting,
used correctly, is a great way to break the
tyranny of fleshly appetites, and to give
your undivided attention to God. But it is
much more than just giving up a meal; it is
a way of looking at life. In Isaiah 58:7-8,
God has this to say: Is it (fasting) not to divide your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him; And
not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
"Then your light will break out like the
dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring
forth; and your righteousness will go before
you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear
guard."
Think back on the life
of Jesus while meditating on this Scripture
in Isaiah. He was sent to break both the
physical and spiritual chains of the
oppressed. Going without, from His
perspective, was simply a way for Him to
prepare His heart so that He could complete
His mission.
The Bible teaches us
that we are to be conformed into the image
of Christ. Shouldn’t giving up something
that I want then be a tool to prepare me to
tell the world about his love? Shouldn’t
service to others be my goal? When I see
someone truly going without, shouldn’t I try
and meet their physical needs, even if I
have to give up something of myself to do
it? A true fast, of the kind mentioned in
Isaiah 58, helps me to love God more so that
I can respond more effectively to the needs
of my neighbor.
Visit Pastor Timothy at New Vision Ministries website www.mynvm.org
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www.FridayStudy.org
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