Day 14: Our Daily Bread

I remember sitting down to breakfast with my family as a child.  While we awaited Dad's expertly fried eggs and toast made of Mom's homemade bread and jam, my brother and sister and I would fight over how many pieces of bacon each person could consume "fairly."  Then Dad would sit down and I remember often-it might not have been always, but enough for me to remember-he would open up his little white booklet and begin to read.  A witty title, a bible verse for grounding, a story even us kids could connect with, the rhyming words of a hymn or a song and finally...the entire thought for the day summed up in one neat and often clever sentence, written in bold at the bottom of the page.  The little white book was called Our Daily Bread and if we happened to have breakfast at Grandma and Grandpa's it came out there too and I don't remember a morning waking up and stumbling into the living room and not seeing my Dad sitting by the window, bible in his lap, Our Daily Bread near.  He passed it to Mom, and later at breakfast he shared it with us kids too.  

It's the kind of liturgy that forms you and sticks with you through your adult life, and it comes to mind as I consider Jesus' instruction to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."  It pushes me to see this line as more than just a command to give thanks before meals or a reminder that we can bring all our basic needs to the Father.

This past spring while considering these words I wondered at how often the Bible seems to speak about bread.  True, I was in quarantine and everybody was thinking a lot about bread.  These were the days of pulling out Aunt Betty's bun recipe(seriously, it's easy and fast and I'll be happy to share it!), diminishing yeast supplies, and the quest for perfect sourdough.  But I couldn't help noticIng the way the image of bread runs like a theme through scripture.  It made me wonder if Jesus’ Jewish followers may very well have understood an even greater truth as they heard his directive to pray in this way. 

Remember Exodus 15? God's recently liberated people are wandering in the desert and they're hungry. Hungry enough that even the trappings of captivity back in Egypt are looking pretty appetizing.  In response to their grumbling, God tells Moses he will "rain bread from heaven" for the people.  They collect this "manna" every day except the Sabbath and Exodus 16:18 says that the person who gathered a lot had no surplus and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Simply put, there was "enough for each day." And there was enough! The people were sustained by God himself...bread from his hand every day until the morning after they reached the promised land(you can read about that in Joshua 5).

Later in Exodus 25 the LORD God gives Moses directions to build the tabernacle-the place of the presence and sacrifice of God. This is where He will dwell amongst His people, and in it there's this table upon which they should put twelve loaves of bread baked with fine flour. This bread is to be set out before the LORD every Sabbath and remain all week until a new batch is baked as a permanent reminder of the covenant relationship God has with Israel. It represents the people(twelve tribes of Israel) being before the LORD always, and the LORD being always present with His people. Hence, its name, The Bread of the Presence.

Now jump a lot forward to the New Testament gospel of John chapter 6 to another story you might be familiar with. Jesus feeds 5,000 hungry people with only 5 loaves and 2 fish. He gives thanks for the bread, breaks it apart and passes it out to the crowds. After everyone has had their fill, there are(pay attention here)twelve baskets of leftover pieces. Enough for everyone. No shortage, but this time...a surplus.  

You think the story is over but once again the treasure is found when you keep reading. The next day the crowds demand Jesus give them a sign that he is indeed the king they've been waiting for. They suggest he do a miracle like the manna given their ancestors in the wilderness. Jesus tells them that, “The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." You see, God has rained bread from heaven once again as he did in the desert.  He sent them Jesus. But the people are confused so they say, "Sir, give us this bread always." So Jesus tries to make it very clear: 

"I am the bread of life...No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.”

I wonder if his disciples remembered him saying this later as he broke bread at the passover meal saying, "This is my body which is given for you..." The bread of life. The true manna. Coming down from heaven; the provision of God. No one hungry.  Enough.

I remember these words when I see the way he came back to be with his followers by his Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus; the true Bread of the Presence. Because of his life, death and resurrection we can now be always present before the LORD and by His indwelling Spirit the LORD is always present with us.

Friends, as we assume this posture in prayer today, I know without a doubt we're invited to trust the Lord as provider of all things great and small, our every need no matter how trivial. But that's not all. We are invited to see him - the Bread of Life, the Presence of God - as that which satisfies in deeper ways than the things of this world.  Interestingly, the one who asks to be filled full by the presence of Jesus often prays not as much for circumstances to change, but rather for a change in how those circumstances are viewed.

I hope you'll read Isaiah 55 with me today. Through the ancient words of the prophet I pray you will hear God's invitation to come and be satisfied by Him. Then consider verse 2: What other things do you look to for satisfaction? What appetites are you trying to fill? Confess this to God and ask Him to help you to know Him as the Bread of Life...as that which satisfies completely.

As you pray, remember Jesus' own words, that no one who comes to him will ever be hungry again.”

Then let's pray once again the words of Jesus. Let each line form your heart and mind as it reminds you of truth.

Our Father...

In heaven...

Hallowed be your name...

Your kingdom come...

Give us each day our daily bread...

Take some time to remember Jesus as the Bread of life, his presence with you as the thing that deeply satisfies and gives purpose to life. Come to Him hungry and humbly and confess your need of Him...not just what He can give to you, but who He is. Then out of that posture, present your requests to God. Write down the people and circumstances on your heart and lay them at the feet of your Father in Heaven, the Mighty and Holy King who stoops to listen to the cries of your heart. Ask that His presence might bring renewal to the people and circumstances on your heart today.

Forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.

Amen.

Thank you again for praying with me. You are on my heart today as I pray "Give us..."

Much love.