Day 5
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ Luke 18:11-12
This Pharisee was fasting to prove his greatness, not to humble himself before the Lord. It was more about exalting himself instead of exalting God in his life. He was fasting, doing something good, for the wrong reason.
If I do a good thing for a bad reason, does it cancel out the good thing?
During this fast we need to ask ourselves: Why am I doing this? Do I just hope to lose a few extra pounds? Is this because the church is doing it? Is it to look righteous? Or is my desire to yield my heart before the Lord to see Him work on my behalf?
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ Luke 18:11-12
This Pharisee was fasting to prove his greatness, not to humble himself before the Lord. It was more about exalting himself instead of exalting God in his life. He was fasting, doing something good, for the wrong reason.
If I do a good thing for a bad reason, does it cancel out the good thing?
- Giving gifts are good. Giving stolen gifts--not so good.
- Telling your parents you love them is good. Telling them you love them only to get something from them--not so good.
- Picking up litter is good. Picking up liter because it’s court mandated--not so good.
During this fast we need to ask ourselves: Why am I doing this? Do I just hope to lose a few extra pounds? Is this because the church is doing it? Is it to look righteous? Or is my desire to yield my heart before the Lord to see Him work on my behalf?
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