Fasting and Flexibility

This morning I felt led to read a few verses from Matthew's Gospel.  I so enjoy the familiarity of the Gospels and try to spend time in them every week, for in doing so I am able to understand a bit more of the ways of the Lord!  This morning the verses I am reflecting on are very familiar to me - Matthew 9:14-17 NIV:

[14] "Then John's disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 

[15] Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. 

[16] “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. [17] Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

This morning as I read through these verses, I was reminded of one of the themes our pastor spoke on last week.  He was discussing the different streams of the Western Church, and talking about how we don't want to just align ourselves with one flow, as often times those flows will focus on one perspective at the expense of the other.  In general, the two he mentioned were the evangelistic focus and the charismatic focus.  

As I was reading through these verses this morning, I was reminded that the new wineskin for new wine relates to religious practice (fasting specifically), at least in the context of the verses this morning.  Ritual fasting was apparently a significant part of the Jewish "faith" at the time of Jesus' ministry.  John's ministry was one known for a fasted life-style (See Matt 3:1-6), and apparently the  Pharisees fasted regularly.  The difference between Jesus and the rest was obvious enough for John's disciples to ask the question of Jesus.

The question this morning is how these verses apply to our life and faith today?  What in our faith expression is similar to fasting, requiring a different approach, requiring flexibility?   

I am reminded of some verses from the Prophet Isaiah 58:5-7 NIV:

[5] "Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? 

[6] “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? [7] Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter---when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

In these and the preceding verses, God was addressing empty fasting, where the people went through the motions of fasting, but never really repented, or changed their hearts or lives!  Fasting is not supposed to be some empty religious activity, but rather God's perspective was that it should cause people hearts to turn towards Him, and the things He is concerned with. 

Fasting is not a big thing in many protestant churches, but I think we can expand the application of theme.  I believe the Lord is looking for heart engagement!  He is wanting a people who are pursuing Him with their hearts, minds and lives.  He is looking for those who pursue relationship over ritual!  The thing about relationship is that you can't turn it into rote behavior and practices!  

In our pursuit of Him, we often don't know exactly what to do, or what to say, so we look to practices that seem to help.  We know that generations before us have found God in the midst of liturgical expression, and that seems like a good place to start.  The issue is that liturgical expressions is that while pointing us towards God, they don't guarantee relationship, in fact, they can become our focus, rather than the one we are supposed to encounter, God Himself! 

Again, the question this morning is how should Jesus' words impact my life?

First, I think we must get back the core focus of relationship with God!  

He wants relationship with us!  He wants us to encounter Him, to hear His voice, to engage in life-changing conversations! 

He wants us to look past the common faith expressions we employ, realizing that there is more to our relationship with Him, than Sunday observances.

He is after changed hearts, and changed lives, and if our present engagement and expression isn't fueling these changes, then we should be open to some sort of change in our behaviour.

He is inviting us into real relationship where our lives are changed, not because of His rules, but because of our affection for Him. 

He wants a people that will represent Him to a world in need, and for us to do so, we need to understand His heart and encounter Him. 

He wants us to be flexible enough to break out of our comfort-zone, out of our daily or weekly regimen, to really encounter Him!

He wants us to care about the things He cares about!  

He wants hearts and lives engaged!

He has a NEW wine-skin for us.... are we willing to accept it?

Oh Lord, help me to embrace all that You have for me!  Help me to lay down my preconceived ideas about You, about church, about following You, that I might truly encounter You!  

Help me to allow for changes in my life, and my faith expression, that I might really know You!

Help me to better represent You to the world around me!

Amen and Amen!