9/4/12- Daily Bread

Give us this day our daily bread... (Matthew 6:11)

All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.  28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand,
    they are satisfied with good things. (Psalm 104:27,28)

Thoughts: Contrary to some, the government is not the one who gives us our provision.  Our bootstraps and intelligence do not give us our provision.  All that we see is not made by us.  God made it all.  But more than that, God did not just create it all, He actively gives us daily bread.  God is not someone who acted in the past in creation- so that the prayer reads "you gave us our bread."  Rather, each day God in a new provides for us.  Daily bread is fresh bread, and God provides for us freshly each and every day.

Prayer: Lord, I look to you to provide for me this day and every day.  Help me, and give me the health and ability to work and honor you.

9/3/12- Daily Bread

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. (Proverbs 30:8) 

Thoughts: Jesus' words call to memory Proverbs 30:8 which asks God not to give me too little or too much.  But Jesus changes it a bit- it is not "give me" but "give us." Christians are called not to be just concerned about ourselves, but also about the bread of others.  It is a good saying (Bruce Waltke quoted in Tim Keller's "Generous Justice") that "the righteous disadvantage themselves to the advantage of others, while the wicked are willing to disadvantage the community to advantage themselves."  Who is the us here that we are to pray for daily bread for?  Some say the world, some say believers, some say our families or the church we are in praying this prayer.  Jesus leaves it purposefully vague- but it is an admonition to not think only about ourselves.  If we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, then we should care about their getting bread just as if we were hungry for bread ourselves.  Jesus is concerned not about that all have luxuries or have the same thing- but He is very concerned that we care about the real needs of others.  To pray this prayer and not care (pray and act) about the bread of others shows a callousness that Jesus did not have when he walked on this earth.  

Prayer: Give me a heart, O Lord, for those who do not have the basic necessities of life.  Give me a compassionate heart for them as you had for me. 

(Sloan translation 2012) Q. 104 WSC- What do we pray for in the fourth request of the Lord's Prayer?
A. In the fourth request, which is "Give us this day our daily bread", we pray that we may receive a necessary portion of the good things of this life- given freely by God- and enjoy His blessings with them. 

(1647) WSC Q. 104- What do we pray for in the fourth petition? A: In the fourth petition, which is "Give us this day our daily bread," we pray that, of God's free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessings with them."