The Daily Bread

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

Jesus asked his disciples to pray in a particular manner and gave them a sample template of a good prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). He asked them to pray for daily bread and not monthly or yearly. The Jewish audience were well familiar of the Old testament reference of the heavenly bread manna. Exodus states that the Israelites consumed the manna for forty years in the wilderness. But there were some terms and conditions applied to gathering the manna. God asked them to gather according to one’s need (Exodus 16:16). And those who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack (Exodus 16:18). In spite of the clarity in God’s command, there were still some among the Israelites who were greedy and gathered much more than what they needed and later found themselves to be in lack. Manna also had a limited less than a 24 hours lifeline and the ones that were left for the next day bred worms and stank (Exodus 16:20). The final condition was that they were not allowed to gather on the Sabbath and only the day prior to the Sabbath the people were allowed to store (Exodus 16:22).

Why was God being so particular about the gathering?

God was teaching them a powerful lesson of trusting and depending on Him daily while resting on the Sabbath. Bread gives life and each moment was a reminder of His faithfulness.  

John 6:32

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”

Jesus refers himself as the true bread from heaven in the same chapter at least five times (John 6:32, 33, 35, 48, 51). Jesus has become our daily bread from heaven that gives us life.

Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

It is Christ in us that gives us life and the life which we now live is by putting our faith in Him. Can we trust Him for our tomorrow? For He is indeed our daily bread.

Samuel Thomas (Sam)

Sam is a Christian minister who is serving the Lord in various capacities. He is an integral part of MTU, New Delhi and is also ministering with Crossway Church. He can be reached on samvthom16@gmail.com