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“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited his people.” – Luke 1:68 (ESV)

I’m writing this on the fourth Sunday of advent; the Sunday when the Christian anticipation of the birth of Jesus reaches its apex.

Yet when we read the above passage, it says that YAHWEH is the God of Israel, and he is visiting his people, again meaning Israel.

So, are we speaking about a geographic location or of a people in general? We are indeed speaking of a specific group of people who YAHWEH has claimed for himself.

Why then are Christians choosing this passage to reflect on the birth of our lord Jesus? After all, we’re not the ancient Israelites? We’re not the direct descendants of Abraham, the progenitor of the Israelites, so how are we YAHWEH’S people?

Because we YAHWEH’S chosen people. We ARE the children of Abraham, not by flesh, but through his faith in the promise of a savior for all mankind; the faith which all true faithful Christians share.

We are the new Israel, protected not from physical death by the blood of a spotless lamb smeared on the door frame, but from spiritual death by the blood of the Holy Lamb God, shed on the cross, to take away the sins of world.

Just as the Hebrews were called out of Egypt and led through the desert to the promised land by Moses, we are led out from the ways of the world and into the promised land of eternal glory by the the Lord Himself.

And it all started in Bethlehem, the most forgotten little hamlet in all Israel; in the stable belonging to an inn because there were no more rooms available, during a time of great cruelty and oppression, where a teen-aged mother gave birth to a boy, the Word of YAWEH, who dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness. “- Matthew 6:22

Eyes are interesting organs. They allow us to see objects and people in our lives which can bless and enrich us, as well as those things which are poisonous and can kill us.

We can see things that are very beautiful as well as very ugly, and we see things that can either bring us pleasure or misery; it all depends on what our eyes see through our perspective and perception.

The biggest influence on perceiving something as pleasing or repulsive, is the nature of our desire for that object of person. Is it a desire to have that object of person in our lives in order to bring glory and honour to God, or will the object of our desire be so misperceived that it will ultimately lead to our destruction?

Unfortunately because of the distortion of sin, what we most often freely desire is that which is least beneficial to us.

As a personal example; I struggle with weight and have all my life, and like many who have weight issues, I’ve also had a life-long addiction to sweets.

So naturally, when it comes to that leftover piece of birthday cake in the refrigerator, I stand there and weigh my options: on the one hand, there is the decedent piece of chocolate cake with fudge icing making my mouth water, and on the other is the aforementioned weight issue as well as my blood glucose level indicating I’m pre-diabetic.

Should I surrender to the temptation calling to me or resist? Ahhh..What the heck, Let’s go for it! After all, it’s just a piece of cake. And after all, what could ONE PIECE hurt, right?

It could hurt a lot; maybe not at the moment, but in the long run. Giving in to any temptation could very well turn into a life or death situation, because the tempted individual may either have not taken into account every possible consequences, may be completely ignorant of them, or both.

Of course, there are far worse temptations which can lead to far greater consequences. For example: drug addiction, alcoholism, gambling problems, and sex addiction; each beginning with the notion “what could ONE shot of whiskey, or ONE line of cocaine or shot of heroin, or ONE toss of the dice, ONE time with a prostitute hurt? These behaviors can easily turn into additions which can lead to physical and mental deterioration, disease, joblessness, bankruptcy, divorce, shattered families and relationships, and ultimately horrible and preventable deaths.

In Genesis 3:4-7, we read the account of the “original sin”; that first act of disobedience which doomed humanity to an existence to a perpetual sinful state. We can already see the familiar pattern used by the tempter: convince the victim that the consequences of giving into the temptation won’t be nearly as bad as warned, but are actually benecial.

Once coming to that conclusion, whatever the temptation is has now become not only desirable, but actually worth the risk. Unfortunately, the unforseen consequence of that action affected not only Adam and Eve, but has INfected all following generations.

Jesus understood the role the eye plays in destroying not only the body, but more importantly, the soul. He teaches us that perspective and perception through our eyes can twist that which was meant for good into a means for destruction, as well as thereafter seeing that which evil as something wholesome and beneficial.

If we see our surroundings through the eyes of righteousness, our bodies (as well as our hearts and minds) will be restored and edified, whereas if we see the world through the eyes darkened by wickedness, our whole being will be enveloped by sin.

” Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where there’s break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there is your heart also. ”

-Matthew 6:19-21 (English Standard Version)

One of the most contentious topics these days is the state of the economy. Economists are worried that if the current metrics continue much longer, they could usher in a major recession, which could threaten long range investsments

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be financially secure. This desire is one that has been with us since the very beginning.

The problem occurs when investing for the future becomes an obsession; a never ending pursuit of wealth regardless of the cost, including the loss of family, friends, and even your soul.

Luke 12:13-21 gives us the cautionary tale about the futility of obsessing over security through earthly wealth, where Jesus talks about the farmer who tor down his existing grain bins because he felt he simply couldn’t store enough grain away to keep himself happy. After a lot of time, money, an̈d effort, he finally builds bins large enough to satisfy him. But that night, an angel appears to him and says, “Fool, this night your soul is required of you!

Why dies Jesus make this topic so prominent? Because there are those who will spend their entire lives collecting wealth and status to the point where their wealth becomes their Baal, at whose feet they worship and offer their sacrifices.

As Paul stated in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into a temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evil.”

The out-of-control craving of wealth for wealth and power which many display has led to a host of evils including greed, lying, cheating, and even murder…often without remorse from the guilty party.

This is completely antithetical to the love of God and all the blessings which flow freely from him. All that we receive from him is freely given; It doesn’t have to be fought for or fought over, and there is an abundance of blessings for all to share. And whereas we know that earthly wealth is volatile and temporary, we also know that the riches we have from God through our faith, are both sure and eternal.

“And when you pray, 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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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 (English Standard Version)

In this blog, we address the faithful Christian approach to fasting (and by association the practice of denial) as taught us by the Lord Jesus himself and recorded in Matthew chapter six.

Pretty much every known religion has incorporated these practices as accepted methods of renewing the worshiper’s relationship with their god; some have gone so far as requiring them as part of their worship and developing specific rituals to emphasize these practices.

Fasting and deprivation have been part of the Judeo-Christian faith since Old Testament times, and unfortunately, so has the propensity to take something meant to bring attention and focus to God and turn it to bring attention to ourselves.

Jesus recognized this as being very damaging to the worshippers of YAHWEH because inevitably, the stronger the person’s desire was to elevate himself, the more the acknowledgment of YAHWEH as almighty God and Father would suffer. Such is the way of self-deification, and such is the way the schism caused by sin continues to widen.

What are those attributes of fasting and deprivation that can completely be turned from being a positive means for the healing of our relationship with God, to bringing about the destruction of that relationship?

In order to best answer that question, we need to first the role of fasting and deprivation in both individual and corporate faith:

● They help us to strengthen our connection to YAHWEH, to seek His guidance, and to express surrender, repentance, and dependence on Him. Christians also see these as means of drawing particular attention to the suffering of Jesus for us on the cross for the sake of paying the price for our sin;

● They serve as a means of showing the seriousness of our return to the Lord by humbling ourselves before him and acknowledging our dependence on Him;

● They serve as means by which we can gain control over our physical nature and fight against our temptations;

● They serve as means by which which our attention is shifted away from worldly things back to the righteousness of God;

● They serve as reminders that all that we are blessed with, including life itself, should never be taken for granted because none are ever a given, but are transient from one momentto the next;

● They serve as means by which we mourn the losses in life, either individually or corporately. And when mourn the loss of loved ones, fasting and deprivation remind us of how the death of the body, but also potentially the death of the soul.

Jesus reminds us that fasting and acts of deprivation are not exhibitionas of piety for the sake of personal recognition, neither are they contests to see who can outdo whom, rather they are acts of contrition to be shared between us and the Lord.

They are not intended to gain the approval and praise from our friends and neighbors who will come and go in an instant depending on whether or not you retain their favor, but that of the Father who grants us His favor for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ.

” And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand .on the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
And when you pray, do heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

‘ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.

– Matthew 6: 5-13

I don’t think there’s a single Christian anywhere in the the world who hasn’t prayed what has become known as ” The LORD’S Prayer”. Its simple words resonate deep in our hearts and minds, and it brings us peace of mind, knowing that our desires are so eloquently brought forth to the Lord God YAHWEH

And while we have been taught it to be and prayed as its own unique prayer, it is in fact an instruction and example of how to pray; more specifically, the second half of instructions on how to pray (and how NOT to pray). This continues along the general theme of the entire chapter; what the faithful should and shouldn’t do in order to love healthy lives in their Christian faith.The

As with my previous blog post, this portion of Jesus’s teaching on Christian attitudes centers around the contrast between the actions of the faithful, versus the actions of the hypocrites.

And as was the case with works of charity, prayer is not a means by which ones piety is to be publicly displayed in order to garner attention. Rather, it is a means by which we not only act in humility, but continue to learn what Godly humility is, and how it remains an extremely important part of the lives of the faithful.

Listen to the words of Jesus: “And when you pray, do not not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Who are these hypocrites Jesus is referring to? Basically, he’s referring to the Pharisees, the “holier than thou” class of Jesus’s time. These were the religious leaders… the ones who thrived on telling the ordinary citizens how to live practically every aspect of their lives (including how to be humble in their relationship to YAHWEH), then turn around and do the exact opposite.

And what better places to be “show-offs” than the street corners, where people met up with each other to chat, or in the synagogues, which were the local congregations, where the faithful would gather to offer their own prayers of supplication.

This is why I personally have such a hard time with those who make a grand show out of praying publicly at Planned Parenthood clinics or Pride events.

Who are they trying to impress? When it’s all said and done, they have pretty much succeed in drawing massive attention only to themselves, much like the hypocrites Jesus warned us about, who’s main purpose for such prayer was to successfully draw attention to themselves.

Jesus also warns against being like the Gentiles, who were fond of using empty and repetitive words and phrase, all in hope of being precise in describing their needs to the Father. But in the process, make their well-intentioned prayer sound like endless groveling,
as if YAHWEH, the creator of things, is incapable of understanding our simple requests. In reality, He knows far better what our needs are than even we do.

Moreover, to use endless empty words and platitudes actually makes one sound as if they’re not really certain of their relationship with YAHWEH, much less having their prayers answered.

Now that Jesus taught what was totally inappropriate for the prayer practices of the faithful, he now teaches us the acceptable prayer model, giving us a reminder of what to concentrate on when we pray in a very precise manner.

– Our Father in heaven:
In the first sentence we immediately get the sense of what our attitude (approach) towards our heavenly Father should be; as it was in the very beginning of creation.

YAHWEH invites us not to see Him as some distant deity, but as the Aramaic word “ABBA” suggests, a loving “dad”, who we can talk to lovingly and confidently, as any child would speak with their fathers.

– Hallowed be you Name:
We admit and acknowledge that, in and of itself, the name YAHWEH is indeed holy (set apart), and we pray that we will keep it holy among us and within us by making sure His word is not only properly taught, but that we live by it.

– Your kingdom come:
Just as with His name, we acknowledge the kingdom of God comes of itself apart from our prayer. But with this petition, we pray it also comes to us by the giving of the Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we will live godly lives now and in eternity.

– Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven:
We know the the Father’s good and gracious will is done throughout creation without this prayer request, but here we specifically request that His will is done within us as well.

YAHWEH’S will is done when He prevents and destroys every evil force and desire that would not allow us to keep His name holy, or allow His will to be carried out, or allow His kingdom to come among us; such is the will of the devil, the world, and even our flesh. In praying this, we are kept steadfast in His word and in our faith by the Holy Spirit. This is ultimately His good and gracious will.

– Give us today our daily bread:
Every day, YAHWEH provides us with all we need, whether we know our needs, or whether we had no idea we needed it. He does this even for the wicked.

Our daily needs extend well beyond those things we think we need the most such as food, water, clothing, and shelter, these are the blessings in our lives we never think of as important to our well-being.The

For example: family to nurture, protect, and defend us; clean air and water to help out bodies properly function; leisure time to spend doing fun, relaxing, and re-energizing activities; church, where we gather in fellowship with brothers and sisters in the faith, and a host of other components in our lives which are part of the daily bread we pray for, but just not recognized as such.

– And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
The use of the words “debts” and “debtors” might be a little confusing to people who pray, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, but if we do a deep five into the Greek text, we find two distinct words; each can be died however to convey the same basic idea, that of of falling short, recognizing offenses given, and the importance of forgiveness.

– And lead us not into temptation.
Why in the world would YAHWEH lead us into any temptation? The answer is He doesn’t. But we should pray either these words or words expressing this request so that He would, through the Son and the Holy Spirit, guard and keep us so that the wiles of Satan, the world, or even our flesh would in any way draw is to any crises of faith, and to give us the strength to resist them all and retain victory.

– But deliver us from evil.
Finally, this is prayed as a summary, asking the Father in heaven to deliver us from every evil that would attack everything we are or have, so that we might have this life in a state of blessing, and to find eternal peace with Him in paradise.

Just about everything you purchase, or otherwise use, has an instruction label or book. Even Christians have one: it’s called the bible.

But, as is the case for everything else in life, there needs to be the occasional shortened reminder of some of the components of our faith which may not readily come to mind, which is where Matthew 6:1-4 enters the picture.

In this pericope, Jesus is teaching his disciples how to avoid becoming a status seeker, while at the same time setting a proper example of true Christian humility.

Jesus begins by saying, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for them you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what the right had is knowing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” 
– Matt. 6 :1-4 (English Standard Version)

It’s really interesting to consider how and why Jesus chose this particular instruction to begin his teaching session. Apparently (and we pretty much know this to be a fact), the desire to be specially acknowledged for acts of even basic decency was at that time, and still remains, the easiest exploitable personal action, and left us most vulnerable to our hedonistic tendencies.

Take at look at how celebrities nowadays put out “advance announcements” declaring their intended donation or action, then arrange for all sorts of media coverage for when the donation is actually made, the a follow-up story a year later to show the whole world the extent to which they’ve gone to help this individual or group…all to show everyone just how magnanimous they are.

It wasn’t a whole lot different back then. The hypocrites…those who wanted the whole people to see how truly magnanimous they were, would blow their horns in order to make a display of it.

But Jesus warned against it by basically saying, just do it and don’t even think twice.

He goes on to warn us not to do any charitable acts to impress people, because whatever acknowledgment of praise you receive will be your ultimate reward; this is what your reward will be because that’s what you were after.

However, Jesus does say that if you are charitable for its sake, and not even thinking twice about it, the acclaim you will receive from our heavenly Father is far greater than that of the people.

In a short time, who you are and what you do will be forgotten for all time IF YOUR GOAL WAS TEMPORAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

If, however, your goal is to quietly emulate God and His loving kindness, who you are and what you do will still be forgotten in this world, but our heavenly Father will hold you in His bosom for all eternity.