“Observe A True Fast!”

“Observe A True Fast!”
During one Lenten season a colleague asked to know if I ever fast at all! I asked him to tell me the difference between myself and himself who fasts! It isn’t necessary to make a public display of spiritual matters that has to be known only between you and God!
Jesus says, “when you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
As long as we keep fasting as the hypocrites do, we become worst hypocrites than them! I cannot expect God to respond to the reason for my fasting if I am fasting while scheming evil against others! I cannot expect God to be in accord with my fast if while fasting I am hurting my neighbour and seeking to destroy my rivals!
That will be tantamount to storing up treasures on earth. True fasting should be a remonstrance against the (d)evil! True fasting is a yearning for true penitnence, genuine forgiveness and brokenness which is like storing your treasures in heaven. And as we know, “…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”(Mtt. 6:16-21).
My pledge this Lenten season: I am not going to play the hypocrite by deceiving the public with fine rhethorics when I am full of hatred against others, seeking to destroy them at all cost! I am not going to be a hypocrite demonstrating outward piety without commensurate brokenness of spirit! I am not going to relent my effort in the pursuit of justice and truth! I am going to run away from the wiles of the devil as much as I can!
What about you my good friend?
Prayer: Lord, as I enter the season of Lent, break my yoke of entanglement in sin. Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me, but create in me a clean and pure heart and renew my spirit through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour! Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!