In our communion with God, Jesus invites us to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” This simple request shows that a life with God is one of ongoing, unending, daily dependence. In other words, it is a life of faith.
We may take “bread” literally to mean food, or it may represent everything that is required to sustain our lives. Limiting the request to our daily bread means only seeking enough for today. Today, Jesus calls us to trust our heavenly Father for today, and we are invited to trust him again tomorrow for tomorrow’s needs. As John Ortberg says, “Daily bread is about learning to trust God one day at a time.” By doing this, we oppose the world’s frenzied, fearful drive to accumulate and hoard. Fear drives us to seek control. Love compels us to trust.
This is the daily, moment-by-moment dependence we see in Jesus’ life. Has it ever occurred to you that Jesus never hurried? There is no record in the Gospels of Jesus rushing or worrying. He trusted that his Father would provide for him, and he expected this kind of faith from his followers. Later in the sermon, we hear this from Jesus:
“You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.”
When we live the Lord’s Prayer, we learn to let go of our rushing; we learn to release our fear of not having enough and our striving for control. Instead, we begin to slow down, trust our Father, and discover that true life is not found in what we eat, drink, wear, or drive.
What an incredible challenge for us. In the wealthiest, most fed culture that has ever existed, Jesus comes asking, Will you be content with enough bread for today? Will you slow down? Will you release the worries of this world and find your true life in communion with God?
Daily Scripture
Matthew 6:9–13
John 6:35–51
Weekly Prayer
From Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)
O Lord, let me no longer desire health or life except to spend them for you and with you. You alone know what is good for me; therefore do what seems best to you. Give to me or take from me; conform me to your will; and grant that, with humble and perfect submission, and in holy confidence, I may receive the orders of your eternal providence; and may equally adore all that comes to me from you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
