Zechariah 7-9

(April 10, 2015)

                Even when we do good things (like fasting), it is essential that we do them for the right reasons.  It is fine to fast, but if we are fasting for ourselves rather than fasting for the Lord we are not doing anything of eternal significance (just losing a little weight).  Of course, we lack the capacity to change our motivations by effort.  So that puts us in an impossible (you might even say fallen) position.

                We cannot be complacent with doing the right thing for the wrong reason (though that is often better than doing the wrong thing).  Instead, we need to continue to do the right thing, but at the same time call upon the Lord to change our hearts so that we begin to do that task for the right reasons.  If we are fasting, we should approach the Lord (if we find our motives are impure) and let the Lord know that we can do what we can do, and ask the Lord to change our hearts so we can do it in His name and for His glory.