Sold Out For Jesus daily devotion online
G. John White's first devotional Sold out for Jesus covers 12 vital themes of Christianity.
Select the date to display the devotion for: |
January Topic: OBEDIENCE IS GREATER THAN SACRIFICE |
Of all the things I have had to learn over the length of my lifetime - this is the most important. If we don't get this right, the rest is impossible. So let's spend this first month of the year getting our priorities in the correct order. |
Matthew 6:16
WHEN YOU FAST...
Have you noticed how food can dominate our whole existence?
Yes, I know we need it to survive, but I sometimes think we are a bit hard on the Israelites. We sit here glibly criticising them for grumbling about the fact that all they had to eat was manna everyday, day in and day out and yet you only have to walk down the main street of any town or city today and find an amazing variety of food on offer.
People make sure of a stopover in Singapore or particularly Hong Kong just so that they can gorge themselves on the wonderful smorgasbord on offer. We have become bored with so many different delicacies nowadays that Chinese has been replaced by Mexican, and Italian by Korean or Czechoslovakian - or for us the other day - Fish and chips by a Mongolian Barbecue.
Have you also noticed how much time we "waste" preparing, eating and cleaning up afterwards? No wonder the West is moving towards an "eating out" society. It was reported recently that nearly 60% of Americans, now almost exclusively, eat their meals out. I must admit that if you can afford it, I can understand why.
Jesus said, "when you fast..." Have you noticed it's always the well-built people who suggest it? Us skinny ones feel the pinch! Yes, fasting is going without food. Why? One reason, I'm sure, is so we can "teach our bodies" who is 'boss' of our food intake.
So many people seem to be ruled either by money or food. Jesus expects us to exercise self-control so that our bodies are ruled by our heads and not by our stomachs. Someone once said "He was a fine looking man until his stomach went in for a career of his own!" We must control our eating habits.
But is that all fasting is? Going without food? Certainly many seem to act as if that is all. But no, I believe that is only a part. The other is how do you spend the time fasting, instead of being engaged in eating?
That surely is the key. Spend that time in the presence of Jesus and your fast takes on a whole new dimension.
When did you last fast? Why not stop now and plan to enjoy one with Jesus this year. He is waiting for you do to it!
For further reading look at Isaiah 58.
Download the above Sold Out For Jesus devotion as a PDF.
Previous Day's Devotion | Next Day's Devotion
To subscribe to this daily devotion by email visit our Daily Email subscription page.
