Introduction
Coming to Terms with Fasting
e
mbedded in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6) we find Jesus’ instruction regarding three Jewish practices that Christians still follow: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices are centrally located in the sermon because they are central to living the life in Christ. Along with gathering for worship, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the basic, defining practices we undertake as disciples of Christ. This is because the Christian life is directed toward three focal points: God, our neighbor, and our soul. Like the needle of a compass, prayer orients our lives toward God; almsgiving turns our gaze to our neighbor. Fasting, on the other hand, directs our attention to ourselves. 7
Sample pages only. Purchase the full book at http://store.ancientfaith.com/when-you-fast/
