Thought for the Day – 131 – Fasting
Proverbs 11:3 – Wickedness
is like walking on eggshells, one can already hear the cracking but will do
little to avoid the fall from grace. Yet the root of righteousness in the man
of God is like an aged grapevine and he will not be moved.
Comments and challenges
Bill Bright was avid
about fasting, it is said that he did several “40 day fasts” I am sure these
were very meaningful for him and those who participated with him, but not
everyone can just jump in and fast for forty days. Bill Bright himself
encouraged people to work into long fasts and even explained that people of ill
health or poor nutrition should not fast. Early on my wife and I did some
fasting but not more than one day and usually from the evening meal until the
next. We gave it up because it disrupted our metabolism.
Mark 2:18-22 – I believe
that what the LORD Jesus is saying in these passages is that while Jesus is
present in the lives of His disciples that they do not need to fast. He is with
them and it would be foolish to fast in the presence of the One who meets all
their present needs. It is not by any stretch of the imagination to say that
the same principle is available to believers today. There is this command in
Romans 13:14 But put on the LORD Jesus Christ and make no provision for the
flesh; and this exhortation in 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the LORD is the Spirit;
and where the Spirit of the LORD is there is Liberty.
Yet I also know that
in each of these sections of scripture there can be the need to fast. For
example; in the Corinthians chapter it may be spiritually rewarding to fast and
learn more about the New Covenant, we have the liberty to do that. Then in the
Romans chapter we are commanded to obey the rule of our current government,
this is not something we readily jump on board with therefore, fasting may help
to keep us from fulfilling the lust associated with disobedience.
In Mark 2:21-22
Jesus shows that Old Testament teaching and New Testament teaching do not mix.
(A side note) I truly wish that theologians took a stronger look at this verse.
I read this as a pictorial statement that we are to keep separate the two
covenants, yet daily on television and in some commentaries I see people of
good intentions mixing the two.
(A statement from Dr. David Jeremiah’s morning devotionals -
The entire Old Testament is a set of clues, or instructions, pointing toward a
final destination: the arrival of Jesus Christ, Messiah of Israel and Savior of
the world. The Old Testament was written over many hundreds of years by many
different people, so piecing the clues together took discernment. But when
Christ appeared, He made it plain: "I came to fulfill the Law and the
Prophets" (Matthew 5:17, paraphrase). Old Testament saints may have been
at a disadvantage, but we shouldn't be. We have the promise and fulfillment in
one book. Don't miss the meaning of the Old Testament!)
So while fasting in the Old Testament is a command, it is
optional in the New Testament therefore let us look for the promise of HIS
return and the fullness of the Holy Bible is the Truth and fulfillment of His
First Coming, so He come again; but this time as King of kings and LORD of
lords. Revelation 19:16
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