Daily Devotion, July 13, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 6:9-13.

This prayer, which Jesus taught his disciples to pray, we pray together each Sunday. This prayer, which we call “The Lord’s Prayer”, is the centerpiece of Jesus’ teachings to the multitudes from what is traditionally known as “The Sermon on the Mount.” I believe the Holy Spirit continues to teach us new understandings from this prayer every time we pray it.

Today we are focusing on this simple and yet profound petition, “Give us today our daily bread.” We can trust God to provide both for our physical and spiritual needs. Physically, God knows that we need food to sustain us. Bread is traditionally and universally understood as a symbol of physical nourishment. Jesus’ words reminded his listeners of the stories from the time of wandering in the wilderness when God each day provided “manna” for nourishment.

Providing “daily” bread offers a timeless truth of Jesus’ teaching to trust in God’s care each day of our lives. In this classic teaching on prayer, Jesus summarizes our prayer requests for the basic necessities of life as our “daily bread.” He encourages us to pray for today’s needs only.

There is another word about this phrase offered by Dr. M. Eugene Boring in The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. “For the poor people among whom Jesus lived and worked, bread was understood for survival. The prayer represents Jesus’ own solidarity with the poor and his concern that they have the minimal means of survival. Praying this prayer, the church unites with the hungry and poor of the world and creates a readiness of those who have bread to share with those who have not.”

Also, in John 6 Jesus declares, “For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world…I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Yes, God provides for our spiritual needs in giving us Jesus. Jesus gave himself for us to give us life and life eternal.

Personal Worship Option:

Ponder Jesus’ words, “Give us today our daily bread.” God will take care of you today. Are there individuals or groups of people with whom you could share your food? How is Jesus being the gift of “the bread of life” in your life today? Pause and give God thanksgiving for the basic necessities and for Jesus, “the bread of life.”