The Right Perspective on Fasting - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“‘But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast’” (Matthew 9:15).

Fasting is meaningless if done merely from habit and if it doesn’t derive from a deep concern over some spiritual need. And as we saw yesterday, even the best and most foundational spiritual practices, if not done with sincere motives and right purposes, are only hypocritical and pretentious.

Jesus was obviously referring to His crucifixion when He said He would be taken away from the disciples. From that time on, it would be fitting to fast and mourn. Fasting naturally comes from a broken and mourning heart, but if it is performed as a shallow, mechanical ritual only, it is displeasing to God.

Jesus’ emphasis on internal matters such as forgiveness shows us that fasting must be held in the proper context of what’s truly important. It also demonstrates that He brought us radically different teachings and practices from those of traditional Judaism or any other religious traditions—Catholicism, liberal Protestantism, any sects and cults—that can stress externalism, ritualism, or any man-centered habits. When we fast, Jesus wants us to do so in light of His new covenant—not the old with its forms and shadows—and in a way that increases our compassion for others, causes us to be more humble and sacrificial, and gives Him all the praise and glory.

Ask Yourself

Are there ways to fast besides abstaining from food? In what other ways could you experience the spiritual benefits of fasting—the clarity of communication with God, the taming of selfish desires, the renewal of priorities?

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[metmom]

When I used to drive my m-i-l’s car from Sarasota to Buffalo, I would pack up all my preaching and worship CD’s and play them while I was driving. I would intersperse that with some audio Scripture and then just times of praying.

Now, of course I was just driving but my whole focus for those couple days all day long was God and Jesus. God really spoke to me during those times. They are very precious to me.

That’s all off the table now as my health is far worse than it was in those days and I could not handle that much travel with trying to eat enough on the diet I’m on. But in those cases, even though I had to focus on driving, I was disconnected from the rest of the world and it was such a blessing, as tough as the trip could be by the end of the second day.

[trebb]

"Jesus was obviously referring to His crucifixion when He said He would be taken away from the disciples. From that time on, it would be fitting to fast and mourn. Fasting naturally comes from a broken and mourning heart, but if it is performed as a shallow, mechanical ritual only, it is displeasing to God."

I believe fasting has its place - but I also believe that we needn't go on mourning since He has risen. Maybe it's just me, but when He cried out, "Father, why have you forsaken me", it was because sin separates us from conscious contact with God the Father and as He took on our sins, it was the first time He had lost that conscious contact - it had to be terrible for Him. And it would have been right to mourn His passing - but once he was Risen, I believe we should mourn our own continued sinfulness (and even use fasting as part of that meditation) while rejoicing that He, upon rising, has offered us redemption despite our inability to even really want to live a sinless life. Just some of my personal thoughts - thanks again for all you share.