禁食是对我们有益的属灵操练，它帮助我们察觉到，与神同行能带来改变生命的能力。
经过一段时间的禁食，我们或许会看到一些需要我们改善的行为和态度，和一些能照亮我们人生路的新做法。为了要表明我们对主的忠心，我们或许会放下某些旧习惯，去培养新的属灵操练，纵然要很费力才能做到也在所不辞。例如，要戒除不羁的口舌、四处环顾的眼目，或放任的吃喝，这些都不是容易做到的。至于要在祷告和自我省察上用心，要刻意为邻舍拨出时间，或在崇拜时更专注荣耀神，也同样不是容易的事。
当日亚伯兰和耶稣的门徒，立刻撇下一切去跟从，今日我们当中鲜有人做得到，大多数人都是逐步地改变的。圣经也告诉我们，亚伯拉罕和众门徒与神同行时，也有他们挣扎的时候，但他们不是靠自已，乃是与神一起并倚赖祂的力量方能成事的。
在大斋节期间，我们禁食与否并不重要；要紧的是，我们与主同行不论到了什么地步，都有机会聆听祂的声音，省察那些缠累我们的事，并且舍弃一些东西，好叫我们能够更自如和更忠心地事奉神。
主啊，求祢赐我们智慧，好叫我们能看到那些妨碍我们与祢同行的重担，又赐我们能力去舍下它们好更亲近祢。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。
创世记 12:1-4; 马太福音 4:18-22
1 耶和华对亚伯兰说：“你要离开本地、本族、父家，往我所要指示你的地去。
2 我必叫你成为大国，我必赐福给你，叫你的名为大，你也要叫别人得福。
3 为你祝福的，我必赐福于他；那咒诅你的，我必咒诅他。地上的万族都要因你得福。”
4 亚伯兰就照着耶和华的吩咐去了，罗得也和他同去。亚伯兰出哈兰的时候年七十五岁。
18 耶稣在加利利海边行走，看见弟兄二人，就是那称呼彼得的西门和他兄弟安得烈，在海里撒网，他们本是打鱼的。
19 耶稣对他们说：“来跟从我，我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。”
20 他们就立刻舍了网，跟从了他。
21 从那里往前走，又看见弟兄二人，就是西庇太的儿子雅各和他兄弟约翰，同他们的父亲西庇太在船上补网，耶稣就招呼他们。
22 他们立刻舍了船，别了父亲，跟从了耶稣。
“Go ...to the land I will show you...” So Abram went. — Genesis 12:1, 4 “Come, follow me.” ...At once they left. — Matthew 4:19-20
Fasting is a healthy spiritual exercise. It can make us aware of the life-changing power of walking with God.
After a period of fasting, we may well see that there are behaviors and attitudes we can do without, and new practices that can help bring light to our path. As a sign of devotion to the Lord, we may want to give up old habits and develop a new spiritual discipline, realizing it will also take some hard work. For example, it’s not easy to give up an unruly tongue, a wandering eye, or unchecked eating or drinking. Nor is it easy to become more thoughtful in prayer and reflection with God, to intentionally take time for a neighbor, or to concentrate more on honoring God in our worship.
Few of us leave everything behind immediately, as Abram and the disciples of Jesus did. Most of us make step-by-step changes. The Bible also shows that Abraham and the disciples struggled along on their way with God. They didn’t make progress on their own; they did it with God and in his strength.
Whether we are fasting or not during this season of Lent does not matter in itself. But wherever we are on our way with the Lord, we have opportunities to listen to his voice, to examine the burdens that constrain us, and to let something go so that we can serve God more freely and faithfully.
Lord, give us the wisdom to recognize the burdens that slow our walk with you, and the strength to give them up and grow closer to you. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
