Matthew 9:14-15 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Why do we do what we do? Jesus points out that His disciples need not fast as long as He is among them. The purpose for fasting should be to put aside everything or anything which hinders your closeness to Christ. The OT example of fasting is one of food. I have fasted on food for a season. I have fasted on television. I have fasted on the news.

None of those fasting could have accomplished their purpose without a time of prayer, meditation and study of the scriptures. Fasting in and of itself, apart from these things is meaningless. The purpose of the fast is to come closer to Jesus, to put aside the distractions and times ill spent on things of the flesh, things of the world and of things which consume one’s mind.

If you spend time praying, meditating, and studying the scripture, you will find no need to fast. But what about other endeavors? Why do you do what you do? Do you do them with purpose or habit? Do you do them with purpose or obligation? Do you do them with purpose or mindless idleness?

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Do you know your purpose?

Luke 8:22-25 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Over the last ten weeks I have used words to inspire my devotionals. In truth one could say I took the words out of context. They were fitted into a framework to convey a message. Set alone words can and often do take on the possibility of new meaning apart from the context of the letter. Some would say I took liberty that was not mine to take. They might go even so far as to call it false teaching. OK. I get it.

Have you ever been listening to a sermon and one word struck a strong memory in you? Has an image, a sound, a smell or even a touch taken you away from the sermon and placed you in a place of wonder if not understanding? Revelation is of God and no one can deny God His will in shedding truth into a mind that is seeking Him and all that He can do to help us.

The wonder of God’s revelation moments do not have to be in context to be truth. It is my hope that we open up to the possibility that God can and does work in and thru the scriptures according to His will and not just our expectation of context.

Isaiah 55:7-9 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

And that is in context.