But when you fast…
The past few weeks, my mind has been pondering that age-old topic that Christians like to avoid discussing almost as much as tithing - Fasting! Whenever I think of tithing, immediately my tummy sighs inwardly. As you all might have gathered, I do quite enjoy my food, and why shouldn't I?! Genesis 9:3 says, "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you" - Amen to that!
So, rather than describe what fasting is, I thought I'd start by asking, "Should we still be fasting?" I think a lot of people think it's not particularly relevant (maybe you don't - good!) in today's age. Fasting plays a big part in the old testament, and we see it done by such greats as Nehemiah and Daniel.
But what does the New Testament say about fasting? To find out, quickly flip to Matthew 6, and we'll come across the Sermon on the Mount - packed full of info for a blessed life with God. However, careful reading will find the following:
"But when you give to the needy…" (v 3)
"But when you pray…" (v 6)
"But when you fast…" (v 17)
As Christians, we don't doubt for a second that we should pray - after all, it's with a single prayer that we moved from death to life. We shouldn't question about giving to the needy either. But fasting…? I can hear you all grimacing now! It seems to me, that fasting is something that Jesus expects us to be doing as a matter of course. It's something we should be doing, even if it is going to cause us a little discomfort, which is nothing compared to that of what Jesus suffered!
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