Today’s scripture: Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Penny Dean):
If you know me, you can tell by looking that fasting is not part of my spiritual regimen. I tried it once. . . and promptly broke it before I did something I would regret. So when I read my assignment for today, I resorted to Wikipedia.
According to the site, there are a variety of health benefits that can be obtained through controlled fasting (which means a couple of days at a time): improved cholesterol levels, increased lifespan, and better blood sugar levels to name a few. But as with any good thing, fasting can be taken too far.
On Wikipedia, there are photographs of a woman who embarked on a series of 40-day fasts (40 days being the longest a body can go without food before starvation begins). Before her first fast, she appeared to be a typical American with a possible weight issue. After her third 40-day fast ended, though, the woman appeared emaciated and sickly.
The bible only records Jesus taking one 40-day fast. Matthew 4:1-11 gives the account of Jesus’ temptation by the devil in the wilderness. On day 41, angels attended him, probably bringing him a good, hot meal for starters.
What strikes me most about this story is the setting. Jesus wasn’t tempted in a town or at work or at home. He was in the wilderness. . . alone. It doesn’t get much more private than that.
And, I think, privacy is at the heart of each of Jesus’ admonitions in Matthew 6. When you give, do it quietly; when you pray, do it in private; when you fast, don’t draw attention to yourself. As my then six-year-old niece used to say before slamming the door to her room, “I need my privacy!”
Before each of these instructions, Jesus says, “Don’t do as the hypocrites do.” In other words, make sure your motivation for giving and praying and fasting is to draw you closer to God, not to be honored by other people.
Hypocrites, according to Jesus, give to get honor, pray to be seen, and fast to be admired. Recognition by others is their only reward–and it is short-lived. Rather, let God reward you in God’s own way. The results may seem to be intangible, and not as noticeable as an extended fast, but will last forever.
Thought for the day: What does my spiritual regimen look like? What is my motivation behind it?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.