“For God so loved the world that
he gave his only Son…” John 3:16a
Fasting
isn’t something we like to talk about these days. Perhaps, it’s something no one has ever
really liked to talk about. And yet, we
will fast from delicious carbs like ice cream and donuts to lose weight, fast
from sleeping in for a run or a bike ride or a sale at our favorite retailer,
we fast from sleep to finish a project for work or school, or we even fast from
lunch hour to protest at the capital. So
maybe fasting isn’t so strange? Okay,
you’re right. We don’t usually use the
word “fast” or “fasting” when talking about weight loss or exercise or work but
the idea is the same but only makes sense in religious terms. When we fast we give up a certain need or
pleasure for a set amount of time but what separates fasting from all of the
above is the reason.
What
is that reason? If you answered Jesus,
you’re correct! We fast out of a
response to what God has already done for us in Jesus. The verse at the beginning sums it up well,
“For God so loved the world that he
gave his only Son…” God gave up or maybe another way to state it; God fasted
from the presence of his son because he loves us. God loves us that much! Fasting doesn’t begin by contemplating how
horrible we are and how we need to do
something about it. Rather, fasting
begins by contemplating how wonderful God’s love for us truly is.
If
you are thinking about fasting from something, take time to think about and
wonder about how truly God does love you.
Let John 3:16 be your mantra as you begin your fasting journey.
~ Matt Seaton
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