Lately I have been reading a book called, The Shepherd of Hermas, primarily because God has led me here. Though this book is not an easy read, the content is quite interesting. The book is assumed to have been composed in the second century by Hermas, the brother of Pius, bishop of Rome. The early church fathers believed this book to not be completely inspired by God, so it was not added to the canon.  Rather they recommended it to be used as a devotional. I first want to say that I support this decision. I also want to add that I have learned over the years of walking with God and listening to Him that sometimes men add their own thoughts to His words. So when any person speaks or writes in Jesus’ name, I always ask God was this from You or not? I then encourage you to do the same, even with this writing or any writing that comes from me. However, do not allow a hard teaching to be neglected as not being from God. Ask earnestly seeking truth and not just what is easy to receive.

I was reading the 5^th Parable of Hermas, which happens to be about fasting. In this, Hermas speaks of a shepherd coming and sitting next to him, while he was in the midst of a fast, which I could best explain to be an angel. Essentially, this angel tells Hermas that his fasting is done in vain. The vainness comes from the shepherd saying that he is lacking purity. Fasting the desires of the world is a life-long fast that we must first partake in. Too often we teach about fasting as a means to achieve something we wish to receive and thus making the fast a selfish request. Here we are seeing from Hermas that we must first loose the selfish want before we even fast, and then when we do fast it is for a deeper receiving of Jesus himself. We fast for the sole purpose of seeking more of Jesus Christ and His purity. We are saying by our actions that we want more of God than we want to please our selfish human nature. It is in this we are fulfilling the direction of Hebrews 12 in “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:2a, NASB).  Therefore, first seek a life of purity and then fast seeking the face of our King!

I desire to live by faith, and faith alone!