True Fasting
.
Isaiah 58:1-9
1. "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. 3. `Why have we fasted, and thou seest it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and thou takest no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. 4. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 5. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? 6. "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7. Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8. Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am.
Matthew 25:34-40
34. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35. for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37. Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38. And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39. And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' 40. And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
Scholars estimate that Isaiah was written around 700 B.C. The verses from Matthew demonstrate that still after all that time, people just didn’t “get it!” And still, after 2000 more years, we struggle not only to understand what God expects, but to live the life He described to the ancients throughout Isaiah!
It’s kind of like the Faith and Works argument. Neither have value without the other. Fasting is fine, acceptable, although apparently was not commanded or required. It was practiced for several reasons throughout the ages. But Isaiah and Jesus both warn that fasting for the sake of others observing your piety is not only ineffective, it’s worse than consciously sinning!
It’s not enough to go to church on Sunday and then spend the rest of your week self-involved, and thinking only of your own needs and desires. We must go out into the world and spread our faith. During Lent an e-mail/prayer circulates that I really love. It talks about instead of depriving ourselves of a favorite food or a favorite activity, to fast from selfishness, from envy, from pride, from gossip, from all the thoughts and actions that separate us from God.
During a Nominations and Personnel committee meeting the other night our chairperson suggested that we use a theme of “Add something to your life” during Lent next year. That is a perfect theme to use for our campaign to recruit volunteers for the many ministries of our church. It’s a new and exciting way to look at that season!
That is what Isaiah and Jesus both instructed us to do. Don’t spend time “spinning your wheels” trying to get involved in as many things as possible, don’t bother observing the religious traditions and practices of your faith, don’t look around and see who is noticing how much you do. Spend your time doing out of gratitude. Out of faith. Out of obedience. Out of an inability to keep the Good News to yourself!
The message is timeless. Do good. Be Jesus to everyone you meet. Don’t worry about what the world thinks or says about you! There is only one judge who you need to convince! And He knows not only what is in your mind and heart, but what is in your soul. And He rejoices every time you choose to please Him instead of the world.
I hope you spend your day pleasing God, choosing His ways and His commands so that you may be found blameless when Jesus comes again in all His glory.
Mary
