Thought for August 11

 History: 

  • 1527: Zurich town council agrees to surpress Anabaptists
  • 1858: First ascent of the Eiger
  • 1866: First roller rink opens--Newport RI
  • 1919: Green Bay Packers founded--Indian Packing Company
  • 1934: First federal prisoners arrive at Alcatraz
  • 1964: Movie "Hard Days Night" released
  • 1965: Watts riots begin
  • 1973: American Graffiti opens in theaters
  • 1988: Al-Qaeda formed
  • 2008: Airbnb formed
  • 2020: Biden announces Kemala Harris as his running mate
  • Born: Rosamund Johnson [Lift Every Voice and Sing],  Alex Haley, Arlene Dahl, Carl Rowan, Jerry Falwell Sr., Steve Wozniak [Apple], Hulk Hogan, Viola Davis, Joe Rogan, Chris Hmsworth, 
  • Died: Augustus Toplady [Rock of Ages], Andrew Carnegie, Edith Wharton, Jean Bugatti [auto designer], Jackson Pollack, Peter Cushing, Herb Brooks [Miracle on Ice coach], Mike Douglas, Robin Williams [guest in the owner's box at Niners game with his two sons], Trini Lopez, Sumner Redstone, Lowell Mason [composer who wrote the music for Nearer My God to Thee, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, My Faith Looks Up to Thee, Blest Be the Ties that Bind]
Thought:
Jesus has taught on two practices of righteousness--alms and prayer. Now He turns to fasting. These three practices were used by the Pharisees to demonstrate their righteousness. Jesus teaches that the external acts are not righteous if they are born in an unrighteous heart and are performed for the praise of men and not the glory of God. Let's look at Matthew 6:16-18 as Jesus teaches about fasting. John Wesley said, "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it."
  • There are many instances of fasting in the Old Testament:
    • In Daniel 10, Daniel relates that he had been mourning for 3 weeks during which time he had not eaten any tasty food, meat or wine. After the 3 week fast, he was given a vision of Christ. Mourning plus fasting resulted in a vision of Jesus. 
    • In Esther, she calls for an absolute fast for three days [4:16] so that the people could pray for her as she approached the king. Fasting provided the time and the focus for the prayers of the people. 
    • Several fasts were called in times of national emergency--Joel, Jehoshaphat, the king of Nineveh in response to the preaching of Jonah. In 1756, the King of England called for a national fast and prayer when he was faced with a French invasion. John Wesley reported that the "fast day was glorious. Every church in the city was more than full. Surely God will hear our prayer." The invasion failed.
  • As with alms and prayer, Jesus tells us "when" we fast, not if we fast. The Pharisees fasted twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays. This was a fast from sun up to sun down. While they were fasting they walked around with long faces showing that they were pious and suffering for their faith. 
  • Jesus instructs that when fasting we
    • Don't have a sullen or sad appearance. 
    • Focus on God and spend the time to talk to Him and listen to Him. Take your mind off the flesh and place it on those things above. 
    • Let your fast reveal to you the things that control you like your appetite.
      • What do I think I cannot live without?
      • What is really essential?
      • What am I prideful about or what makes me jealous?
    • Allow the fasting to open your ears to hear what God says. Read His word, ask for His wisdom.
Jesus does not give us rules for the timing or length of our fasts. Allow the Holy Spirit to prompt you. Perhaps we just need to take lunch time and pass on eating and spend the time praying and listening. Or maybe a day with only water would be the appropriate fast--allowing more time to read and listen. In any event, Jesus says that we fast in secret, to be seen by our Heavenly Father and not by others. Now don't be like my college roommate and I. He was Catholic and needed to give up something for Lent each year. We gave up TV [but there was no TV anywhere close by], we gave up steak [but we never ate steak]. Fasting is denying the flesh to increase our spiritual focus, not giving up liver or boiled okra.

Blessings
Larry

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