Monday, July 13, 2015

The third discipline Jesus refers to in Matthew 6 is fasting. This too is to be done in secret. You are not to give others around you the impression that you are fasting by looking somber or disfiguring your face so it’s obvious you are fasting. If your fasting is obvious your reward will be nothing more than that others will notice. In fact, Jesus says, “When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” The choice is clear: be noticed by men or by God. You can’t authentically do both. If you want God’s attention, do it in secret! It is implied, if you try to impress people, some might be impressed. But that’s it. That will be your reward. Rather meaningless, isn’t it? If you try to impress God, that won’t get you very far either. God isn’t impressed by anything we do, public or private. But if you want God to know you are serious about something, to the point you are willing to sacrifice something like food or sleep, and you do it secretly, God will notice and bless you. The blessing might not be exactly what you expect, but like in prayer, it will be consistent with what God knows is best for you. And often, like with prayer, His response will be immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. God delights in doing that and is glorified in doing it. That’s the essence of fasting.