CD - The Fourth Petition - Matthew 6:25-34

This is the only petition, of the seven, in which we ask for something for ourselves, namely bodily blessings. The first question that might come to mind, is “What if we did not pray, would we still receive our daily bread?” For a logical answer, look at the non-Christians and the unchurched of the world. I am sure they do not pray, but they receive the same, if not more, blessings than we Christians receive.

Let us look at what is meant by daily bread. Daily bread is not just a loaf of bread everyday. That definition is a too simple literal translation. Daily bread is a short two-word phrase meant to encompass a very broad scope of items. As we do need bread or food daily to sustain our physical life, so we need other physical or bodily items to sustain our physical being and make it more comfortable. Thus, daily bread includes such physical or bodily items as shelter, clothing, shoes, food, drink and even friends. We must realize that this petition does not necessarily include everything we want, but it does include all that our good and gracious Lord knows we need.

We pray the word, our, not me. We are not praying simply for ourselves, because our prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, is not a selfish prayer. We pray for ourselves and for others that we all may be sustained daily.

Our scripture reading from Matthew is a part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus does, as only He can do, an excellent job of explaining why we should not worry. Look around at God’s creation. Do you see any of God’s other creations worrying? No, of course not, and, yet look at how well they are taken care. Are not we, being the jewel in our Lord’s crown of creation so to speak, worth more than these other creatures and creations?

Why do we worry, then, in the first place? Because we think we can do it ourselves. We think we can take care of our lives and run the show. We forget that God is in control, although not like a puppeteer, and He is the one who is directing our lives.

Why do we bother praying this petition? To remind us that all things come from our gracious heavenly Father, to give Him thanks and to keep our faith where it belongs. Two thoughts I would like to share before I end:

1. When we worry, we assume a responsibility that God never intended us to have.
2. When we worry, we undo our prayers. Therefore, why worry when you can pray, “give us this day, our daily bread.”
   

Our Father in heaven, forgive me when I fail to come to You to ask for my daily bread. I know that You continue to answer this prayer, even when I forget to pray. Continue to work in me the understanding of how You take care of me, supplying me with all that I need to support my life. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.