October 30 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:9–15

Devotional

The Lord Jesus teaches us to pray for our daily needs. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Consider the word “daily.” This means there should be no care for tomorrow. Certainly we have to work for tomorrow but we are not to have cares for tomorrow. “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son” (Prov. 10:5). But even with barns filled to capacity, if that is all we have, we are no better than the rich fool who had to die that same night in spite of all his wealth.

To pray “daily” shows us that we are mortal people. This keeps us small and humble. Our “daily” life is so short. The Lord provides daily for His people. We would rather be secure for a long time, but the Lord says, “No, one day at a time.” For in every day there is but a step between death and us.

Daily we need the same bread and daily we need to live by the same miracle of God’s caring grace. This unites us to God. The expression “daily” shows us our poverty. We are not even able to take care of tomorrow by ourselves. There is also this to remember: the God of today will also be the God of tomorrow. Those who experience the daily care of God will have no doubt that God will provide also for tomorrow.

The Israelites had to gather the manna daily. “Give us this day our daily bread.” The word “bread” portrays our need. Bread is what we stand in need of. The Israelites in the desert were not content with the daily manna. They longed for the fleshpots of Egypt. But then they would no longer be strangers in the desert and the desert would be their home. On this side of heaven we should not pray for the fleshpots, for wealth, but we should ask for bread.

Every piece of our daily bread has been purchased by the suffering and death of Christ. If Christ had not suffered and died, there would be no daily bread for us. Let us be humbled by this love of Christ. It is of the Lord’s goodness that we receive so much.

People of God, do not set your heart on the matters you possess in this temporary life. Do not seek to hold on to them, for all you need is for God to hold on to you. Finally the day will come when there will no longer be the need to pray this petition for daily bread. Then God’s people will be in heaven forever at the wedding Supper of the Lamb.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.