BETWEEN YOU AND GOD

BETWEEN YOU AND GOD


There are many HYPOCRITES
In this world=there are
Many FALSE TEACHERS=as
Saint Paul points out
THROUGHOUT his teaching


I HOPE AND PRAY
I am NOT
One of them!


“When you FAST=
Do not look gloomy
Like the HYPOCRITES” Matthew 6:16


The word HYPOCRITE
Is repeated=OVER 20 times
In the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS
Of the Bible


Jesus used that word
Many times too=including today=
In his SERMON on the MOUNT
Teaching on FASTING


A HYPOCRITE is one who
Gives a FALSE APPEARANCE
Of virtue


Your fasting=and your FAITH
Are BETWEEN YOU AND GOD


It is a PRIVATE MATTER
For which NO ONE
Is to judge


Jesus warns us
NOT to fast
In a HYPOCRITICAL WAY=
For then fasting
Has lost
ALL of its value


“I do not sit
With the deceitful=
Nor do I
Associate with HYPOCRITES” Psalm 26:4


“And when you pray-
Do not be like
THE HYPOCRITES


For they love to pray
Standing in the synagogues
And on the street corners
To be seen
By others” Matthew 6:5


“Therefore rid yourselves
Of all malice-
And all deceit


HYPOCRISY-envy-and slander
Of every kind” 1 Peter 2:1


Be HONEST=be forthright=
Stand up for the TRUTH-
Stand up FOR GOD
In this world


Fasting is BETWEEN US
And the LORD=
Do not walk around
In a GLOOMY MOOD=
Trying to ATTRACT attention
To yourself


Do it for God=
Do not do it
LOOKING FOR COMPLIMENTS


PRIVATE and personal fasting
Is good=
To HIGHLIGHT our prayers


And it teaches us
SELF-CONTROL=which is one
Of the FRUITS
Of the SPIRIT


“But the fruit
Of the SPIRIT is love=
Joy-peace-forbearance


Kindness-goodness-faithfulness-
Gentleness=and SELF-CONTROL” Galatians 5:22


MY DEAR FRIENDS=your
FAITH and your fasting
Are private matters=
BETWEEN YOU AND GOD=
They are personal


FASTING for GOD
Is always good=but don't do it
To DRAW ATTENTION
To yourself


In Jesus' name


Robert P. Wallman
6-16-20




Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Fr. James McKarns