A few weeks ago I heard someone tell me that they were
fasting. It was at a meal and I heard
the “pity me” story of what they were giving up in order to be obedient to God.
They quoted Daniel fasting and named a diet just for this
fast like Daniel did. I asked, “Why are
you fasting? Is it to punch your card
for church that you completed a fast?
Was it to draw closer to God? Was
it to lose weight? (I’ve heard that before also) What is the real reason for fasting?
Let’s look at Daniel 1: 1-16 to discover why Daniel and
three friends began the fast. Another fast,
is also described in Daniel 10. The bottom line was that Daniel did not want
to defy Mosaic law and eat the food which was offered by the king since it was
taken from gifts to idols. So the
purpose of the fast was to edify God.
Daniel did it without complaining and the result of the fast was God
being glorified.
So many churches have cards in the
back of the seats in which you check off a box to show an accomplishment or a commitment. I grew up with boxes to check for Attendance
(I had seventeen years of perfect attendance and the pins to show it), Bible
reading, serving, singing, and the list goes on and on in many churches. So for many people fasting is just another
box to check.
Are you checking boxes for the Lord or are you giving, fasting,
serving, and loving others because you are passionately in love with the
Creator of the Universe and want to see the Lord glorified in and through your
life?
Take a look at your mental attitude and why you do anything
that helps someone else. Are you just
checking a box so you can be in approval before the Lord? Or are you just doing these things BECAUSE you
love the Lord?
In everything you say and do, make it to glorify the Lord and
not yourself. It is tough to accomplish but when
you work for the Lord you are not checking a box because all the boxes were
checked when you gave your life to the lord and followed his Son as a Christ Follower.
So throw your pencil away and just get to serving, giving,
fasting and loving others. It pleased
God when Daniel did it as he was blessed in everything that he did and you will be blessed when you do things without thinking about
checking boxes.
