16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:16–18

Do you have a favorite meal of the day?

Seeing that each traditional mealtime has good things going for it, it may be hard to choose. The allure of lunch, of course, for the needed midday “pick me up” it delivers. However, as good as lunch is, I’d propose it serves as more of a prince of meals to the queen and king. I mean, think about it, who hasn’t skipped lunch for a queen’s breakfast or abandoned it to save room in anticipation of a kingly dinner? And while dinner is most certainly the patriarch of meals, I must argue that it’s way too pretentious to be my favorite. Listen, not every dinner is stuffy, but if there is going to be a stuffy meal amongst the three, it is more than likely going to be dinner.

So, what does that leave? The queen of meals- breakfast of course! Hands down, breakfast is by far my favorite meal. It’s as easy as frosted mini wheats, as fun as smiley faced pancakes, and as hearty as a packed omelet. What’s more is that in a family with four boys, the casual nature of breakfast provides us the best shot of eating out in a restaurant without incident. Beyond all these reasons, I must admit that breakfast is my favorite simply for the fact of how satisfying it is. You see, my morning routine typically begins with an early morning cup of coffee. I drink it on my drive to the gym followed by a full breakfast when I get back home. Needless to say, by the time I get to it, I’m hungry and so ready to eat! You see, they call it “break-fast” because it’s the meal that breaks our fast from the evening before. It tastes so good because I’m hungry.

This week’s passage is on the topic of fasting. It’s not a topic that is addressed very often, but in the passage above you can see that Jesus has some expectations regarding it. The reality is, God created food. Food is enjoyable and frankly necessary for life. God created us to enjoy and need it, which makes fasting a fascinating spiritual practice. I think if we are honest, many Christians would have to admit that they haven’t quite grasped the concept, let alone the spiritual benefit of biblical fasting. Just like my experience with “break-fast,” most people don’t like to be hungry. And frankly, it’s perplexing to consider why God would want us to fast and be hungry. If I can be perfectly honest, I’ve not been looking forward to this particular passage, but now having studied it… look out! My heart is so incredibly full and overwhelmed. I am blown away by what I’ve learned, and I cannot wait to share it with you. Trust me church, come hungry because the Lord is going to feed our souls.
Be sure to listen to the worship set as you prepare for worship.

Love you, church!­


Jerry Lingenfelter
Senior Pastor

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