“Be careful NOT TO PERFORM YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS before men TO BE SEEN by them. If you do, you will HAVE NO REWARD from your Father in heaven….” Matthew 6: 1 BSB (Emphasis mine)
In the previous edition, we looked at how we can effectively fast to receive the blessing in relation to the motive and the secrecy of fasting. This morning we are going to continue with how to conduct ourselves in the moments of fasting in order to effectively receive the desired results. We are going to journey way back into the Old Testament specifically in the book of Isaiah who was also a messianic prophet to serve as a guide to help our understanding.
Let us consider and analyze each verse of Isaiah 58:3-11 to help us to effectively conduct our fasting.
“WHY HAVE WE FASTED, and YOU HAVE NOT SEEN? WHY HAVE WE HUMBLED OURSELVES, AND YOU HAVE NOT NOTICED? “Behold, on the day of your fast, YOU DO AS YOU PLEASE, and YOU OPPRESS ALL YOUR WORKERS.” v.3 BSB (Emphasis mine)
The children of Israel at a point in time fasted the best way they could just like our days but could not receive the desired results. This led to a lot of murmuring and complains like we do these days after fasting especially when we do not see any significant change in our lives. So, God decided to respond to their grievances through Isaiah the prophet. This was what precipitated the questions in the verse 3. Therefore, the verse 3 suggests that; it is possible to embark on a fast and will not see the desired results especially when we don’t do it the right way.
Secondly whenever we fast, we must seek to please the Lord. The moment we try to please ourselves in the moment of our fasting, the whole purpose of the fasting is defeated. That is why Jesus warned us not to behave like the Pharisees when we perform our righteous acts such as fasting. Furthermore, the scripture also suggests that, we stop oppressing our subordinates or neighbours. After all the noise or the publicity of our fasting, when we are not kind to those around us but rather intimidate them with our violent posture then, our fasting would amount to nothing.
Beloved, we must endeavour to please the Lord rather than our self-aggrandizement and also demonstrate kindness to those around us especially those in vulnerable position, each time we fast. When we do these, then we can be certain that our fasting would definitely produce good results. God bless us all as we continue hopefully tomorrow.
Lord Jesus, I thank you this day for my life. From this day forward, I have resolved in my heart to please you O’ Lord and I will try to show kindness to those around me. I refuse to be a tyrant in my home and workplace. Holy Spirit, please guide and help me achieve this. This I pray in the precious name of Jesus! Amen!
Author: REV. SOLOMON LUTTERODT
PRAY WITH ME
