ODB: For The God I Love
July 28, 2011
Moving away from the table can bring us closer to the Father.
READ: Matthew 6:16-18
When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites. —Matthew 6:16
A couple of years ago in our church we did a sermon series on the Old Testament tabernacle. Leading up to the message on the table of showbread, I did something I had never done before—I fasted from food for several days. I fasted because I wanted to experience the truth that “man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut. 8:3). I wanted to deny myself something I love, food, for the God I love more. As I fasted, I followed Jesus’ teaching about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18.
Jesus gave a negative command: “When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance” (v.16). Then He gave a positive command about putting oil on your head and washing your face (v.17). The two commands taken together meant that they should not draw attention to themselves. Jesus was teaching that this was a private act of sacrificial worship that should not provide any room for religious pride. Finally, He gave a promise: Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you (v.18).
Although fasting isn’t required, in giving up something we love, we may have a deeper experience of the God we love. He rewards us with Himself.
— Marvin Williams
Source: Our Daily Bread
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ODB: For The God I Love
July 28, 2011 READ: Matthew 6:16-18 When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites. —Matthew 6:16 A couple of years ago in our church we did a sermon series on the Old Testament tabernacle. Leading up to the message on the table of showbread, I did something I had never done before—I fasted from [...]
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Fasting. This is one of the spiritual disciplines that I miss out for a long time. Find it hard to have a long and undisturbed time for it given the fact that we are so connected.
Following this thought about giving our Lord undivided attention or undisturbed time. Could we switch-off our handphone during worship service? Silent mode may still disturbing. Simply we want to know who is trying to get our attention or curious to know what is the matter. When my wife is having her daily devotion, I am the one who handle the phone calls and pass the handphone to her after she has finished. I hope that we will not suffer too hard a hit by natural disaster in order to give God the attention that He deserves, if this is part of what fasting means.