In John 4:31 the disciples were concerned that Jesus hadn’t eaten for some period of time. Maybe Jesus had been fasting? We're not sure. But the disciples looked at Jesus and said, “Rabbi, aren’t you going to eat?”
I love Jesus’ response. Jesus looked at his disciples and said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know anything about…”
The disciples were confused… They looked at each other and said, “Did somebody bring him some food?”
Jesus said, “Guys! My food and nourishment comes from doing the will of God, the one who sent me.”
This wasn’t a clever metaphor… It was a genuine reality! Jesus was being sustained and nourished by the power of God…
Optimally, fasting reveals a heart that longs for God and the will of God more than anything else… It reveals a heart that will not fall for any of the substitutes this world offers…
I think Richard Foster was right on when he wrote:
“More than any other discipline fasting reveals the things that control us.”
~ Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
Sometimes we can cover up what is inside us with food and other addictions. Fasting brings whatever controls us to the surface…
If pride controls us, fasting will reveal it… If a critical or judgmental spirit controls us, fasting will reveal it… If anger controls us, fasting will expose it…
If we’ve become "spiritual junk food-aholics" – who need to jump from one fix to another fix just to satiate and satisfy our little spiritual appetite – fasting will get to the root of our selfishness and reveal it for what it is…
“More than any other discipline fasting reveals the things that control us.”
~ Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
I believe that the primary purpose of fasting is the passionate pursuit of the heart of God!
QUESTION: How desperate for God are you?
How desperate for God are you?
James 4:8 (NLT) still says, "Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you."
No comments:
Post a Comment