Zechariah 7:5-6 - “When you return to
Bethel, say to all your people and your priests, ‘During those seventy years of
exile when you fasted and mourned in August and October, were you really in
earnest about leaving your sins behind and coming back to me? No, not at all! And
even now in your holy feasts to God, you don’t think of me, but only of the
food and fellowship and fun.
Zechariah’s next word from God came in late November. The Jews had sent a group of leaders to
request a blessing from God…and ask God if the annual August fasting and mourning
they did was still necessary now that they were home. The answer God gave
through Zechariah is key to understanding how important attitude is in our
worship of God…and the rituals we have adopted as necessary to our faith.
God pointed out how empty their rituals had become….a mere
action to show obedience in a rule. Their attitude was not right when they came
together to worship…to mourn…or too fast.
They only thought of the food and fellowship that they would enjoy...with
no attitude of worship…or praise…or empathy for the reasons they were told to
fast and worship in the first place.
I sure needed the reminder …I even fought writing this
morning. We are out another day …roads in our area still impassible in some
areas. I have enjoyed a preview of what
retired life might bring…rising later than my usual 5 o’clock…drinking my whole
pot of coffee at the house. I admit that I have rested a little too much while
I have been snowed in…complacency and selfish thoughts ruling my actions.
The thought that convicted me the most revolves around a
fast I started 4 years ago. I stopped eating beef and pork to ask God to save
two students that I realized were lost.
I realized one afternoon while discussing religion with the Academic
team members I was working with that they were lost in the false teachings of
the cultures they were raised in.
True fasting should take our focus off ourselves for the
time we fast…and concentrate our hearts on God. The moments that we are
reminded what we are giving up should remind us to pray for the reason we chose
to fast in the first place. In my case….the fast has gone on for so long that
giving up those meats doesn’t trigger my vow to pray for them as much anymore. I have looked for so many substitutes…that I become
complacent in my passion to see them saved.
That’s exactly what God was telling these Jews through
Zechariah. God wants our attitude to
match the ritual we have chosen to help us strengthen our faith. God does not want the ritual to become more important
than Him. He doesn’t want me to fast…just because I said I would 3 years
ago. He wants me to honor the reason I
chose to fast…to pray for these two with more fervor…to increase the rigor of
my prayers even….becoming more humble in the process. If I apply this concept to all the rituals I
have developed through the years to strengthen my walk with God….I build humility
and become more service oriented…I think less about my own needs and more about
what I can do for others.
Father…thank you for the reminder that fasting and the other
rituals I choose to build my faith require an attitude of worship and love for
you. Forgive me for letting my promise become so meaningless and weak. Renew in
me this morning a passion to these two saved…and increase my prayers for them
when I am tempted with the foods I chose to fast. Renew my heart with a passion
to become less and less of me….so more of you can show to others. Amen.
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