Confronting Temptation and the Devil

Why do we fast?
 
On Ash Wednesday, in the newsletter, I mentioned that all the “40s” in the Bible revolve around and participate in Jesus’ fasting. 40 is the period of time for waiting, preparation, and fasting, because each “40” (the desert wanderings, a woman’s pregnancy, Moses on the mountain with God, etc.) joins Jesus in his 40 days of fasting. We fast with Jesus when we go through one of these periods of preparation—he is with us and we are with him; we are a part of his life.
 
On Sunday, we listened to the account of Jesus being driven by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. His fasting was a strange form of preparation for that temptation—the whole world was stripped away, so that he could confront Satan in complete weakness. That may seem odd, but remember that “complete weakness” is simply another way of saying “with only faith in God remaining.” Jesus fasted before his confrontation with the devil so that the only thing he would have left is faith in the Father.
 
We fast with Jesus during Lent (not just copying him, but actually joining him). Our fasting—like his—is a means of learning to live with no strength other than faith in the Father. If the only weapon in our arsenal is dependence on God, we are finally ready to confront temptation and the devil. As long as we depend on ourselves, we are prone to fall. That is why Peter tells us to “resist” the devil “firm in your faith.” Faith clings to God, and God alone can deliver us from the tricks of the devil and our own selfish hearts.
 
This Lent, as you fast, remember that you are fasting to learn to cling to God. We fast so that we might have nothing left, and in having nothing left, that we might throw all our hope on God.
 
In Christ,
 
Steven+