Fasting is an act of worship.  The Bible warns against doing it without a repentant heart and right conduct.  Look at this.

Isaiah 58:3-6 CSB
[3] “Why have we fasted, but you have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but you haven’t noticed!” “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers. [4] You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today, hoping to make your voice heard on high. [5] Will the fast I choose be like this: A day for a person to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? [6] Isn’t this the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke?

Why have we fasted but you have not seen?

We have denied ourselves but you haven’t noticed!

Those first two lines make my stomach turn.  The tone is accusatory and the question is offensive.  Who is doing the talking in this passage.  The answer may surprise you.

God is, through the prophet Isaiah.  He’s telling the people what He hears and then contrasts that with their actions.

Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast and oppress  your workers.  He goes on explaining actions that are terrible at least and condemning for sure.  The end of vs. 4 in today’s words might sound like this.

You actually expect me to listen to that?

In vs. 5 He explains that it’s not about visuals.  To bow his head like a reed, to spread out his sackcloth and ashes?  This seems to beg the question…

Is it all about you?

Finally in vs. 6 He tells us what a fast is about.

To remove the chains of wickedness.  It’s to be a freeing experience in the presence of God. A removal of burden and oppression.  A removal of anything that would hinder your connection to Him.

Ok Colby, I get it fasting is supposed to be special.  What am I supposed to see in our text?

Let’s look?

Mark 2:18-20 CSB
[18] Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?” [19] Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. [20] But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

People around already don’t like that there’s a party going on in Levi’s house.  They come to Jesus with a very similar question as to the one God pointed out in Isaiah 58. 

Why don’t your people fast like everyone else?  Why don’t you live up to our religious standards?

Jesus responds with a parable where He is the Bridegroom and His disciples are the guests.  The idea is that they currently have Him and they need to be soaking Him in.  Not fasting but enjoying Him.  He then tells them that soon they won’t have Him.  He is referring to His upcoming death on the cross.  That will be a day to Fast, a day to connect with God.

Fasting isn’t about being seen.  It’s about perspective.  What’s important.  It’s not just about food.  It’s not about discomfort.  It’s about connecting with God and being in Him.  The most comfortable and sustaining thing I can think of.

The point?

If that’s not what fasting is about for you.  Don’t fast.

Our connection to Jesus supercedes everything.  We continuously put things in front of that.

What do we need to add to our fast?  What do we need to deny ourselves of to keep that connection? 

Christian, we are post cross.  We should be in a constant fast.  I’m not talking about food.  I’m talking about denial of that which will separate me/ you from Jesus.  I’m saying that when we hear that we should be different.  Well that’s because of our connection to Jesus and not letting anything interfere with that.

Love in Christ,

Colby