2 Corinthians 3:8-9, Right Relationship with God
2 Corinthians 3:8-9 8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. (2 Cor. 3:8-9 KJV)
Moses spent long, uninterrupted time with God. He fasted throughout this period of 40 days and 40 nights on the Mount. Fasting is an exercise of self-humiliation, not for self-interest, but for God’s glory; not for legalistic asceticism, but an act of loving service to render the body more susceptible to the higher interests of the soul in the worship of God. In fasting, we do not have to be about the task of caring for the meal but have unbroken time with God.
Such self-humiliation would have been highly profitable and would be according to the teachings in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
The missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, observed this with regard to fasting, “In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are- dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon.”
Fasting reminds us that we are sustained by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4).
Fasting is not an end in itself. It is a means by which we can worship the Lord and submit ourselves in humility to Him. We do not make God love us more than He already does if we fast, or if we fast longer. Fasting invites God into the problem we may be facing in our walk with Him. Then in the strength of God, victory is possible.
Indeed, when we seek a right relationship with God through the righteousness that is in Jesus Christ, there is strength in a Spirit-filled life. Jesus shed His blood for the cleansing of our sins. When we humble ourselves before God and confess our sins, He forgives us our sins and unrighteousness. We behold His glory in our walk. May this be so for you today. Amen.