The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 22 SEPTEMBER  2024 – TOPIC: TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST

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THE DAILY FOUNTAIN

DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE

CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

(Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity)

TOPIC: TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST

READ: MATTHEW 9: 14-17 (NKJV)

9:14. Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

9:15. And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

9:16. “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.

9:17. “Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

THE MESSAGE:

The disciples of John the Baptist came and asked Jesus why they and the Pharisees fasted often but His (Jesus’) disciples did not. Jesus’ reply showed that His disciples would not fast while He was still with them. He also stated that one cannot use a new cloth to patch an old cloth or put a new wine in an old bottle. In both cases, the aim would be defeated. However, if new wine is put in a new bottle, both are preserved. People have different reasons why they fast. Some fast because they want to slim down. The Pharisees fasted to be seen by men as spiritual leaders (Matthew 6: 16). The type of fast that God loves is found in Isaiah 58: 6-9.

Do not fast in order to fulfil all righteousness or because other people are fasting. Rather fast when you have a good reason to do so, especially for your spiritual growth. Let your fasting not be a “hunger strike” when you do not eat but do everything else without reading your Bible or praying. Decide today to start fasting when it is needful. Fast in a way that will glorify the Lord.

PRAYER: Grant me grace O Lord to fast the way that pleases You in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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