Crocheted granny rug tucked tightly around my legs, sipping a steaming long black, nestled close to the gas heater with breakfast menu in hand, the crisp winter breeze whistles down Flinders Lane as Melbournians late for work bustle by. Holidays or getaways are those moments when we give ourselves permission to pause, simplify, plan less or even just roll with the day as it unfolds.
Jesus teaches and models prayer with his disciples. The Lord’s Prayer is introduced in Luke as the disciples lean in to Jesus, listening to learn more about daily life. Jesus’ teaching on prayer includes the request for the gift of daily bread. What is the bread? In this context and in our lives bread represents: the necessities of life, God’s Word, God’s family, fellowship and salvation. Bread represents the things we all need daily.
Why is it daily? In context, manna bread was a temporary and daily blessing, gifted to nourish and sustain. Matthew reminds us to look at the birds of the air; who do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet our heavenly Father feeds them daily. In relationship, Christ broke bread, shared His broken body as a living sacrifice and offers himself to each of us daily through love and grace.
Being human, our inherent desire is to predict, worry about and control what the future holds. Beyond today, do we really need to know what events will unfold? God comes to us, through Christ, in our broken humanity and assures us that He is walking each step with us each day. Christ liberates us to make plans, look to the future with hope and by His plan be grounded in the events of today as we serve, lead and learn in community. Christ gives us each day our daily bread.
Blessings as we serve, lead and learn together.
Darren
