True
Fasting
Isaiah 58:1-12
There are many types of
fasting, but it is the way we fast whether it is truly for God or for ourselves
that matters.
Isaiah
58 talks about what kind of fasting is pleasing to God and what is not pleasing
to God.
Sometimes we feel that
if we suffer or experience pain that somehow this is true fasting. We might feel
that because Jesus suffered we too should suffer. Is this to repay Jesus or because
we feel guilty for what Jesus did? We should suffer because we love Jesus.
It is the same as early
morning prayer services. We should go to those prayer sessions because we love God.
We should not do this to show off or brag.
We need to empty ourselves
and lay down our desires including religious desires. By fasting, we show that we
are doing something religious but might ignore the other day to day actions.
Isaiah 58:3 ESV
[3] ‘Why have we fasted,
and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of
it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all
your workers.
Our fasting is no good
if we do not sacrifice all our desires.
Isaiah 58:4 ESV
[4] Behold, you fast only
to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day
will not make your voice to be heard on high.
We quarrel when our desires
are not met.
The true fasting is defined
like this.
Isaiah
58:6 ESV
[6]
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the
straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke
True fasting is living
for justice and helping our neighbors.
Isaiah 58:7 ESV
[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?
By helping those in need,
we are doing true fasting. It is not going without food for set times. Biblical
fasting is filling ourselves with Jesus and act like Jesus.
We often do fast when
we want something. Yes, this fine to do, but we should fast for others.
We do need to prepare
ourselves for God by being more like Jesus.
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