FIRST WEEK OF LENT .............. FRIDAY
MATHEW 5:20-26
The kind of fast God likes during this Lenten season is conveyed in Isaiah 58:5-7
"Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own."
1) When we are angry with our brother we will not feed him when he is hungry, we will not help him when he is helpless and homeless, we will not clothe him when he his naked, and we will certainly turn our backs on him in resentment and grudge when he knocks at our door. In fact in our anger we may insult and harm him and given the opportunity we may even murder him. In these circumstances fasting and praying are useless. We will be punished for our sins of omission and commission.
2) When we find a brother angry with us for a reason or simply out of misunderstanding we are required to reconcile with him, before we can even pray or worship in the church. Otherwise those prayers and worship are not acceptable.
3) When we nurse a grudge or resentment against a brother though we may not show it outwardly, even then our prayers and fasting will be ineffective.
God looks into our heart and not just at our external actions or behaviour. He has commanded us to love.
We should love God and see the image of God in others and love them. It is very difficult, but God has promised to supply us his strength and grace through prayer and self-discipline.
God Bless.
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