In the past few blog posts we have been meditating on the pattern for prayer that Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:9-13. Having considered the first 3 requests of the prayer, which deal with desires we have for God; we now turn to the requests for things we need from God. Jesus instructs us to ask the Father to "give us today our daily bread." A widely read Christian devotional publication carries the title "Our Daily Bread." The title reminds us that just as daily food is needed for the body, daily spiritual food is needed from the Word of God to restore and nourish our souls. When Jesus taught us to ask the Father to give us daily bread, He was referring to the physical food needed for our body. It is a request for the most basic provision of life. We ask the Father to provide for the food that our body needs for the day. There are two important principles emphasized by this request. First of all, we see that God is our daily provider. All that we have is given to us by God, and all that we need must be graciously provided by Him. In 1 Corinthians 4:7 Paul asks the Corinthian church "what do you have that was not first given to you?" We are tempted to believe that we have earned and accumulated things through our hard work. In that sense we feel that we have provided for ourselves. Yet, in God's Word, we are taught that our ability to work is provided by God, that the opportunity to work is provided by God, and that the things we work for are provided by God. So, even though we work, God must give us what we need. As Christians, we know that God is our provider. But there are many unbelievers in the world who reject God and the idea that He is providing for them. Yet, God provides for them as well. He consistently provides graciously for millions who never ask nor appreciate His generosity. We know He is our provider. Therefore, we humbly ask God to provide our daily bread. This creates a grateful spirit in us, as we remember each day the gracious provision of our Father in heaven. The second principle emphasized in this request is that we trust God to provide each day for what is needed each day. It is not a request for weekly bread, or monthly bread, but daily bread. Jesus taught us not to worry about tomorrow, but focus on the needs and responsibilities of today. In the same way, we don't worry about having enough for tomorrow, but we ask God to provide for today. When God was providing manna as food for the Israelites in the wilderness, He provided for one day at a time. If the people gathered more in order to store up for the following day, it would spoil. They learned to depend upon Him daily for what they needed, and He was faithful to provide it. Let's learn to apply these two principles in our daily prayers to our Father in heaven. We will then be ready to gratefully receive what He provides, and to humbly walk by faith in Him one day at a time.
Comments