In Deuteronomy 8:3 I read, “People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." (NLT)
When Jesus tells me to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 ESV), he’s talking about far more than just bread. In fact, the Bible says that bread represents four things.
First, bread represents the necessities of life. When I pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” I can’t sit on the couch and wait for God to throw me money. I’ve got to work!
God says, “I supply it. You gather it.” That’s God’s economy. Even the Israelites had to go out and pick up the manna. Work is part of God’s purpose for my life. It builds character. Proverbs 14:23 says, “Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table” (The Message).
Second, bread represents God’s Word. The Bible says, “People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3 NLT). The Bible is our spiritual food.
When the children of Israel were walking to the Promised Land, God dropped manna from heaven because they had nothing to eat. God gave them bread to show them they needed more than physical food to live; they needed to depend on him. Real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord. I don’t just need physical nourishment; I need spiritual nourishment as well.
Third, bread represents God’s family and fellowship. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:16, “Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ?” (AMP)
Bread is a metaphor for the family of God. I need God’s people in my life! Whether or not I have a physical family, God wants me to be part of his family that will last forever, the church. God made it to be a place of fellowship.
Fourth, bread represents salvation. In the act of communion, Jesus chose bread to represent the sacrifice of his body. Every time I eat the bread and drink the wine or juice, it is a reminder of how much God loves me and the sacrifice Jesus made so I can go to heaven.
Whatever my need is, whether it’s physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual, I need to learn to depend on God to meet that need. Simply pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Then trust God to take care of me.
In summary, I do not live by bread alone; rather, I live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. When Jesus tells me to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”, he’s talking about far more than just bread. Bread represents four things. First, bread represents the necessities of life. When I pray, I can’t sit on the couch and wait for God to throw me money. I’ve got to work! God says, “I supply it. You gather it.” Work is part of God’s purpose for my life. It builds character. Second, bread represents God’s Word. I live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”. The Bible is my spiritual food. God dropped manna from heaven because they had nothing to eat. God gave them bread to show them they needed more than physical food to live; they needed to depend on him. Real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord. I don’t just need physical nourishment; I need spiritual nourishment as well. Third, bread represents God’s family and fellowship. Bread is a metaphor for the family of God. I need God’s people in my life! God wants me to be part of his family that will last forever. God made it to be a place of fellowship. Fourth, bread represents salvation. Every time I eat the bread and drink the wine or juice, it is a reminder of how much God loves me and the sacrifice Jesus made so I can go to heaven. Whatever my need is, I need to learn to depend on God to meet that need. I simply pray, “Give me today my daily bread,” then trust God to take care of me.
Many think that life is based on satisfying their appetites. If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they think they are living "the good life." But such things will not satisfy my deepest longings. In the end they would leave me empty and dissatisfied. Real life, according to Moses, comes from total commitment to God and living by every word that comes from him. I can live by his word by: 1). recognizing my need for it, 2) agreeing that God alone can truly satisfy me, 3). praying for God's presence, wisdom, and direction as I read, 4) savoring the relationship I have with him through Christ, and 5) Practicing what he teaches me.
Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me.
Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
