Monday Devo

Read Luke 5:33-39. The discussion on fasting in the passage reminds me of a well known story in Christian worship circles. A famous worship leader once had his church stop using instruments in worship for several months because he realized the people were worshiping the worship instead of Jesus! Sometimes the things like worshiping and fasting that God gives us to help us connect with him get turned into a tradition or we get too fixated on them all together. In those times its best to do as Jesus - take a break for the tradition - in this case fasting.

Jesus points out in Matthew 6 that the religious culture of his day had turned fasting into a big show to demonstrate how religious they were. They would announce to everyone their religious accomplishments. Ironic that the whole point of fasting is to humble yourself before God. Every hunger pain reminds the one fasting that their frail human bodies are reliant on food. God is reliant on nothing and he is their provider. But this act of humility had been turned into a platform to demonstrate religious pride.

The discussion on wineskins makes sense when you understand that wine expands as it ferments. A new wineskin can stretch and compensate but an old wineskin is already all stretch out. It will just burst as the wine ferments and expands. Jesus' point is that along with fasting and many other "traditions" He is going to redefine the true purpose - the newly defined purpose. The old way of thinking - like old wineskins won't be able to expand with his teaching.

As he gives the real definition of fasting, prayer, love etc. many from the old school of making religion all about looking spiritual will miss it. Jesus came to change hearts not put on a religious show. When our faith is making us famous instead of God - something is wrong.

questions

1) What comes to mind when you hear the word "traditions" in the church?

2) What religious activities do you sometimes do that you simply go through the motions and forget the real meaning of?

3) When you read Matthew 6 you discover the secret to keeping outer religion from turning sour is to passionately pursue God in private - when no one is watching - secret prayer, fasting, giving. How can you do this better?

prayer

This week we're going to focus our prayer time in on listening the the Holy Spirit - the spirit of truth that lives in us. David prayed in Psalms 139 - "search me God and know any anxious thoughts in me." He wanted God to expose the problems of his heart to himself so he could repent and stay pure before God.

Lord you are the creator of the universe. I bow in awe of who you are and what you do. Lord would you show me today where I can love more? (sit and listen quietly before the Lord - go over the last week in your mind and let God show you where you can love more) Just sit with the Lord for at least 3 minutes. As thoughts come - apologize to God for missing opportunities. Ask for strength to do better this week in that area.

Amen!