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BRAVER THAN LIONS
Sam Stringer
Aug 12, 2024
Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure
their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their
reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear
to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:16-18
Of all the spiritual disciplines listed in the Bible, I can’t think of one that’s treated more as biblically cultural
and thus presently irrelevant as fasting. As Americans, unless you’re from somewhere else, we live in a
society practically defined by Burger King’s old slogan: have it your way. There’s a statement I’ve heard
thrown around for a while now and it goes something like this: “a luxury, once enjoyed, becomes a
necessity.” The thought of going without is practically anti-American, isn’t it? It’s not to say that no one in
this country goes without, but as a general trait of our country, we do not go without. We do not like going
without. We do not see it as tolerable to go without. I’m traditionally a Baptist and if there’s one thing
Baptists are known for, it’s potlucks, not fasting. Please smile.
Now, there’s plenty of reasons out there for fasting, and there’s a lot of interpretations, perceptions and
speculations given as fact about spiritual happenings relevant to fasting. I’m only going to give you a bit of
perspective myself in this and I hope you will consider this: fasting from food, or anything for that
matter, creates a void whereby something we have relied upon as a support system for life is
removed. You don’t know how much you rely upon something or someone for your stability until you take
it away. Some people’s worlds are brought to ruin when they lose something they love, be it an item, an
animal, or another human being. You know what isn’t lost when all of that goes? The God who loves us
more than anything, despite the fact that we often love those creations of His more than Him.
Food is one of the most basic and fundamental forms of support in life. We believe as a culture, almost
religiously, that people must have at least three solid meals a day. So why would I step away from a
primary prop in my life? We create voids to both remember where our sustainment actually comes from,
and to lean more heavily into that sustainment. Yes, people do it for answers or for breakthroughs, but
isn’t the most supreme breakthrough to be relying upon God more? What a disservice we do when we do
things to get God to do things for us rather than to simply get more of Him.
God is our Sustainer, and if we’re not careful, as most of us aren’t, we begin replacing Him with food and
jobs and money and fame, power and prestige and a host of other felt “needs” that are very temporal.
Where do those all come from? God. He can give them any moment He desires, and He can take them
away any time He pleases. He’s the Source of everything people tend to replace Him with. We need God.
Now the passage I selected for today is speaking to another element within this issue of fasting. The
Pharisees fasted, and there’s a lot of religions that do, but they did so for the sake of man’s praise. Do
you know what that is more than likely pointing to about them as a whole? The Pharisees propped
themselves up by the praise of man: it was their daily bread. Whenever religion is about the opinions of
others and ourselves about us, it is because we cannot imagine not living without that support system.
Jesus points out here that those who fast must not make their external devotion the spectacle to
onlookers. Fasting is about a quiet devotion to God and a reliance upon Him. It’s not about man’s praise,
but God’s praise. Just look at the verses above again. Fasting is not about earning God’s favor, but within
the grace of God in the life of a believer, it’s yet again about living within that favor and resting in it.
Any spiritual discipline we undertake must be done with attention to our soul’s needs and God’s glory.
Don’t read your Bible to be praised by others. Don’t pray so people think you’re pious. Don’t give tithes to
build rapport with your church. Don’t serve in ministries so everyone fawns over your commitment. Don’t
fast to make people intimidated by you. Christianity is not about creating a persona of reverential respect
when we walk in the room! It’s about helping others point their attention to Christ. The primary element of
this passage is this: do what you do for God’s glory and your spiritual health. As we get closer to Him, His
glory becomes primary and the outcomes relative to our desires become secondary. More of Him, less of
me.
Are you brave enough to live today for Jesus without the admiration of others? Perhaps even to your own
detriment, people despising you for being a light for Christ? Set your eyes on Jesus and you won’t have
to talk yourself into being brave, because that just happens when a person is locked in to living for Him.
Bravery isn’t the point; walking in step with Christ is. Nevertheless, be brave and be blessed today!
Sam Stringer
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
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