Jan 18 - Our Daily Bread

Read: Luke 11:1-4

Context: The passage that precedes this one is the account of Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha, when Mary sat at his feet listening and Martha was upset because Mary didn't help her in the kitchen.

Text:
1One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
2He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father,[a] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.[b] 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c] And lead us not into temptation.[d]' " (NIV)

Footnotes:
Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts Our Father in heaven
Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Luke 11:4 Greek everyone who is indebted to us
Luke 11:4 Some manuscripts temptation but deliver us from the evil one
taken from www.biblegateway.com

While some diets today say bread is the enemy, in Biblical times it was the primary staple in their diets. Throughout the Word we see it -- Passover bread, manna in the wilderness, sustaining life of a widow, her son, and Elijah. In the New Testament it is even used to tempt Jesus in the desert -- Satan asked Him to turn a stone into bread when He was very hungry.

Today, whenever you eat a piece of bread, thank God for meeting your daily needs (and if you are on a low carb diet...thank Him when you think of bread!).