Daily Bread- Jesus the Bread

12/6- Lord’s Prayer- 3- “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Read: “All good things are a gift from God coming down from the father of lights and the Lord of love.”  (James 1:17) Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came from heaven.” John 6:51

Thoughts: God is the great provider.  All that we have is a gift.  He gives us life, time, ability, and puts us in the right place at the right time to get the right job.  The prayer here is not for a lot of extras- but for only daily bread.  This doesn’t mean God only wants us to eat bread.  It does mean God wants us to ask Him for help in providing for our needs.  When God provides more than just the stuff to survive, He would ask us to think of sharing with others. 
     Jesus is the living bread that came from heaven.  We need to nourish our souls on Him daily by reading His Word.  The Bible is also called "the bread of life." 

Activity: Put aside a can for each family member to give to We Care Sunday.  If you feed the birds, give them an extra helping of bird food today- reading Matthew 6:26 before filling up the feeders. Trace the Lord’s prayer on the picture above, saying it together.

Prayer: Thank you that we have enough to eat.  We remember people like in South Sudan or Puerto Rico who struggle to have daily food.  

Daily Bread

Give us this day our daily bread.

Thoughts: When the children of Israel were in the desert, they were dependent on God each day for Manna from heaven.  Each day was a fresh batch.  Jesus was teaching us that we still need to depend on God to provide for us.
This does not mean that we pray this and do not go to work.  Philippians 2:12,13 says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  When we work, God works through us.  God does not work despite us, but through usz and with us.
Jesus was praying for a daily need here- not for extras.  Many times we confuse what we want with what we need.

Prayer: Lord, you are Jehovah Jireh- the Lord our Provider.  Help me to trust in your provision.

Heidelbert 125- Give Us Daily Bread

But my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Philippians 4:19)

Thoughts: God does not just care about our souls- He also cares about our bodies. Jesus tried to let us know that we do not need to worry- it doesn't add to our life.  He reminds us to look at the lilies and the birds and to learn that God who cares for them cares even more for us.  God did not just wind up the world and leave.  No request is too big or too small.  Sometimes we may think daily bread could fall into either category.  This also tells us that God is not overly concerned about our savings account as He is about just the basics. To some it is a huge thing to be able to walk or to see or to hear or eat.  It would be a real miracle if God helped them to do that.  To others, it is such a small thing that they don't think God should take notice.  God does not care whether it is big or small to us.  The One who made the universe and the planets as well as each atom cares for us.  We think it is amazing that a data base can keep track of every human being in our country- and give them a credit score.  But if we, as unintelligent as we are, can do that, how much more can the Master of the Universe not only know but be able to help us in our time of need.  Today in America you can google your address and a picture shows of your house.  Should we not be surprised at the knowledge and care of God who is far greater than Google?  The Daily Bread reference is to the Manna that God fed the Israelites in the desert- it had to be harvested every day, and taught them to rely on God.  We should know that we too can rely on God- each and every day.

Q & A 125

Q. What does the fourth petition mean?

A. “Give us this day our daily bread” means: Do take care of all our physical needs1

so that we come to know that you are the only source of everything good,2 and that neither our work and worry nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing.3 And so help us to give up our trust in creatures and trust in you alone.4

1 Ps. 104:27-30; 145:15-16; Matt. 6:25-34
2 Acts 14:17; 17:25; James 1:17
3 Deut. 8:3; Ps. 37:16; 127:1-2; 1 Cor. 15:58
4 Ps. 55:22; 62; 146; Jer. 17:5-8; Heb. 13:5-6

9/6/12- Praying for Bread

Give us this day our daily bread.

So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14). 

²⁷ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.  ³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:27, 35)

Thoughts: Abraham went up Mt. Moriah not knowing what would happen to His son, but trusting that God would make a way- and provide for him.  Abraham called Mt. Moriah- which is the top of Mt. Zion in Jerusalem- which became the place where the Temple is located- "The Lord will provide: (Jehovah Jireh).  The Temple was the place where sacrifices were made to atone for sin and guilt and provide fellowship with God.  The Temple is also where Jesus often taught- providing a way of life for us. On the top of Mt. Moriah you can see the place where Jesus died- the ultimate provision.  The best provision is the bread of life.  Jesus said to work not just for the food that disappears, but for the eternal food the bread of life.
    So many focus on this economy as the solution to all our problems.  But the real deep problem of life will not be solved by more money.  The greatest problem is the problem of the soul. So to pray for daily bread- we need to pray for more of Jesus each day- for He is the true bread of life. 

Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to keep my eyes focused on you, the Bread of Life. 

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."