“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)
Today, we are going to conclude on how to conduct ourselves in the moments of fasting in order to effectively receive the desired results, as we pick it up from where we left off in the analysis of Isaiah 58:3-11.
“FEED THE HUNGRY, AND HELP THOSE IN TROUBLE. THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL SHINE OUT FROM THE DARKNESS, AND THE DARKNESS AROUND YOU WILL BE AS BRIGHT AS NOON. The LORD WILL GUIDE YOU CONTINUALLY, GIVING YOU WATER WHEN YOU ARE DRY AND RESTORING YOUR STRENGTH. YOU WILL BE LIKE A WELL-WATERED GARDEN, LIKE AN EVER-FLOWING SPRING.” V.10-11, NLT (Emphasis & insertions mine).
The first phrase of the verse 10 reveals that the Prophet Isaiah re-emphasized on the feeding of the hungry and helping those in trouble. This shows how important these righteous acts are to God. They may not be easy but they are worth it. Most often, the kind of feedback we get from feeding the hungry or helping those in trouble, discourages us from continuing on that righteous path. All we get is ingratitude most of the time. But the truth is that, we do not do them for their sake, rather we do them unto the Lord.
As a matter of fact, people’s attitude of ingratitude is the litmus test that proves the strength of the love we have for God. When we focus on their attitude of ingratitude, we will forfeit our altitude.
The second and third phrases of the 10th verse reveals the benefits that comes along with feeding the hungry and helping the needy. These righteous acts of feeding the hungry and helping the needy have the proclivity to move us out of obscurity into prominence irrespective of our religious background. Therefore, it is imperative they become part of our lifestyle especially when we are in a fasting mood.
The eleventh verse assures us of God’s guidance, comfort, restoration and trans-generational blessing whenever we go an extra mile beyond ourselves to feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Jesus is our perfect example. He didn’t have to wait till His fasting period in order to do good. Doing good was His lifestyle (Act 10:38).
In closing, let us consider the admonishing of Apostle Paul,
“Let us NOT GROW WEARY IN WELL-DOING (Performing a righteous act), FOR IN DUE TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP. Therefore, AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO EVERYONE, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE FAMILY OF FAITH” Galatians 6:9-10 BSB (Emphasis & Insertion mine).
The above scripture reveals that; there is a possibility in being weary in doing good but when we focus on the harvest, which is the reward we intend to receive, we will be able to overlook or endure the weariness. In our demonstration of the righteous acts, they must be extended to everyone irrespective of their tribe, ethnicity, race or religion. Once they are humans, we must do good to them all without also forgetting our fellow Christians. God bless us all.
PRAY WITH ME
Lord Jesus, I thank you this day for my life. From this day forward, I have resolved in my heart to do good to everyone irrespective of their background in within and outside my period of fasting. Holy Spirit, please guide and help me achieve this. This I pray in the precious name of Jesus! Amen!
Author: REV. SOLOMON LUTTERODT
